in april 1973 boorman announced the film would star burt reynolds and charlotte rampling. reynolds had just worked with boorman on 1972's "deliverance". however, reynolds had to pull out due to illness and was replaced by connery. "connery had just stopped doing the bond films and he wasn’t getting any jobs, so he came along and did it," said boorman. connery's casting was announced in may 1973 the week before filming was to begin. rampling said she did the film because it's "poetry. it clearly states ⁠— ⁠love your body, love nature and love what you come from."