 Original writer Nicholas Meyer walked off the production when Warner  Brothers wouldnt let him direct his screenplay. Sarah Kernochan was  drafted in to rewrite the script and was somewhat bemused to see  that it was an Americanized version of "The Return of Martin Guerre"  (1983). Warners denied this in a rather obvious attempt not to have  to buy the remake rights, but Kernochan insisted that they do before  continuing as they werent fooling anyone. Warners eventually  relented, and also gave Meyer story credit.