 The role of Ephraim was intended for Ben Kingsley (qv) but he  backed out due to a change to the ending of  Steven Spielberg (I) (qv)s earlier film  _Terminal, The (2004)_ (qv). It caused the start of the production  to be pushed back a few weeks later, thus conflicting with  Kingsleys work schedule on Roman Polanski (qv)s  _Oliver Twist (2005)_ (qv).