On October 29, 2002, "Variety" reported that Columbia Pictures had bought a spec script from screenwriter George Wing, titled "Fifty First Kisses", with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore originally in negotiations to star in the lead roles. Barrymore was sold on the script and wrote Sandler a letter suggesting it as their next film together since "The Wedding Singer". Sandler joined the cast in December 2002, and was announced as co-producer under his film studio Happy Madison Productions along with Steve Golin's Anonymous Content. Sandler then recommended the script to director Peter Segal while they were working post-production on "Anger Management". Segal agreed to direct, leaving him with only two days of break from work before filming. The director revealed that the studio had changed the original title to "50 First Dates" because "marketing found that the term 'kisses' was turning off guys".