In October 1973 it was announced Alistair Maclean was researching the novel, which would form the basis of a film called Circus to be made the following year by Irving Allen for 20th Century Fox in collaboration with the Ringling Circus.
In October 1973, Alistair Maclean began working on the novel that would eventually become a movie titled "Circus" in collaboration with Irving Allen and 20th Century Fox, which was planned for release in 1974 and involved the Ringling Circus.