The Beijing Forbidden City Film Corporation initially sought to hire a Chinese director, but filming humans with real wolves was considered too difficult. New Zealand director Peter Jackson was approached, but production did not take place. Annaud, whose 1997 film Seven Years in Tibet is banned in China, was hired despite the history.
The Beijing Forbidden City Film Corporation initially sought to hire a Chinese director, but the idea of filming humans with real wolves proved too difficult. New Zealand director Peter Jackson was considered, but the project ultimately did not come to fruition. Annaud, who had previously directed a film that was banned in China due to its historical context, was hired despite the potential controversy.