Madonna was originally supposed to play the starring role, but shortly before filming was to begin in January 1991 she dropped out, causing the production on the film to be halted. The next month, in an attempt to salvage the situation, Lynch met with Kim Basinger about starring in the title role and while she agreed, closer to the new filming date she began requesting what "The New York Times" referred to as "major script revisions", which according to producer Mazzocone amounted to making Helena "less of a bitch". After the production failed to make the changes to Basinger's satisfaction she also quit the picture.