Hill heard about Michael Paré from the same agent who recommended Eddie Murphy to him for "48 Hrs" (his then-girlfriend and later wife Hildy). At the time he was cast in March 1983, Paré had appeared in two films, "Eddie and the Cruisers" and "Undercover", which had not yet been released. For Hill, Paré "had the right quality. He was the only actor I found who was right for the part ...a striking combination of toughness and innocence." Paré said of his character, "He's someone who can come in and straighten everything out."