Director Gabriele Muccino cast Dawson as a young student romanced by an older professor and famed writer in a project to be based on Philip Roth's novel. The project collapsed because the leading man pulled out but years later, with a completely different set of creative elements, went into production.

Pacino pulled out of the film project based on Philip Roth's novel about the romance between an older professor and his beautiful young student. Years later, the project was revived with a different director and actors.