Cast as Fitzcarraldo's sidekick, Werner Herzog shot around an hour's worth of film of Jagger and Jason Robards (as Fitzcarraldo) before Robards became ill and Jagger had to quit because of tour schedule. Clips of this footage can be seen in the film "Burden of Dreams."

Robards had actually been filmed in the lead role during early production, before becoming ill and having to return to the United States.