Cast selections began in August 1945 with Lawrence Tierney being RKO's first choice due to his rising popularity after his powerful performance in Metro Pictures' "Dillinger", which had been released four months earlier. After announcing the casting of Tierney in August, film-industry publications in September and October reported that Tallulah Bankhead was RKO's top pick for the role of Helen Brent, but the actress was unavailable. According to the "Film Bulletin" the "timing was bad for Miss Bankhead" to join the project, so the part went to Claire Trevor, whose work the previous year in RKO's "Murder, My Sweet" had impressed studio executives. Trevor in January 1946 signed the contract to co-star in the "psychological mystery" "Deadlier Than the Male", which continued to be the working title for the production, as well as the title used later in the year in a series of official release charts. RKO would not officially change the title to "Born to Kill" for domestic release until December 1946.