 Securing financing the film was very complicated after Filmways  Pictures abruptly pulled out. Initially budgeted at $13 million, it  was now estimated to cost about $20 million. Ladd Co., who would  release the film (through Warner Bros.) agree to a $8.5 million  deal. Hong Kong film mogul Run Run Shaw put in another $8.5 million  for foreign rights. Finally, the rest was to be covered by Tandem  Productions in exchange to the rights to video and other ancillary  rights.