For the role of O'Brien, Paul Scofield was originally contracted to play the part, but had to withdraw after sustaining a broken leg while filming The Shooting Party.[6][7] Anthony Hopkins, Sean Connery and Rod Steiger were all then considered.[6] Richard Burton, who was living in Haiti, joined the production six weeks into its shooting schedule[6] and insisted on his costume of a boiler suit being hand-made for him in Savile Row.[8][9]