the initial script, written by paul mccudden and based on a book by gregory mcdonald, attracted interest from hollywood studios in 1993, despite the dark nature of the story. disney's touchstone pictures eventually picked up the film, and work on it was set to happen at the start of 1994. in december 1993 however, aziz ghazal (the first time director from usc film school who was attached to the picture) killed his wife and daughter before committing suicide. his body would not be found by los angeles police for over a month. with the director of the film missing and presumed responsible for the murder of his family, touchstone immediately suspended production.