Mendes had considered the idea before; he almost took on The Wings of the Dove (1997) and had previously failed to secure financing for an adaptation of the play The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, which he directed in 1992.
Mendes je već prije razmišljao o ideji filmske režije; skoro je prihvatio režiju filma The Wings of the Dove iz 1997. godine, a prije toga nije uspio osigurati financije za adaptaciju predstave The Rise and Fall of Little Voice koju je režirao 1992. godine.