 Ian McKellen (qv) wrote the screenplay while touring the play.  Originally he thought it would be a television production, but he  soon realized that the large production he envisaged would require  the budget of a feature film. Still on tour, he began to consider  screen actors he met for roles in the film, including  Patrick Stewart (I) (qv), Danny DeVito (qv), and  Meryl Streep (qv).