This was originally going to be a 13-part mini-series for HBO. But negotiations broke down and HBO passed on the project. The pilot was then produced for the Fox Network. But Fox did not pick up the show.
It was filmed in 1999 and originally set to be released in 2000, but remained unreleased until 2003.
James Cromwell, who played Captain Smith in the film, later played Kiefer Sutherland's father in season six of 24 (2001).