 According to screenwriter Joe Eszterhas (qv)s 2004 autobiography  "American Animal", producer Martin Ransohoff (qv) removed director  William Wyler (qv) from the picture as Wyler wanted to change  Paddy Chayefsky (qv)s script. It was a rare instance in which a  producer supported a screenwriter over a director, particularly one  of Wylers caliber. As Chayefsky was known to have guarantees  written into his contracts protecting his scripts, Ransohoff may  have had no choice but to replace Wyler with Arthur Hiller (qv).