 It was the directors original concept to have the two grown  characters play the entire film in the nude, which scared off many  actors (including Brooke Shields (qv), who was the first choice  for the female lead.) After Shields initially passed on the  project, the producers offered Diane Lane (I) (qv) and Willie  Atkins the film after screentesting them together in Mexico, where  Lane was shooting a western...but the pair discussed the nudity  together after the crew left and called a few days later to say they  wouldnt do the film, either. With shooting set to begin in a matter  of days, the desperate director agreed to let Shields make the film  predominantly clothed, with a body double employed for the nude  scenes. With that settled, the casting director returned to the  thousands of audition tapes theyd made over the course of a year,  and decided Christopher Atkins (qv) would be alright if he permed  his hair to look more "savage."