In the late 1970s, after science fiction films such as "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", "Star Wars" and "Superman" became popular, Italian film makers began injecting science fiction themes into their films. Director Alberto De Martino stated that the film "was a production based on the trend of the moment. I had always done it that way and always done well. But regarding this genre of film, there was the audience's diffidence toward Italian movies featuring special effects. They knew we were not up to the task, and didn't take us seriously."