Due to financial problems and problems with weather, the film shut down halfway through. It was completed late 2004, early 2005 but director Ivan Passer and cinematographer Ueli Steiger were replaced by Sergei Bodrov and Dan Laustsen respectively.
After acquiring this movie, the Weinsteins has invested more money in the film, demanding more battle scenes and development of the central love story, and delaying its international release until later to in 2006.