Davison produced the film via his Tobor Pictures company. Neumeier and Miner were paid a few thousand dollars for the script rights and $25,000 between them for the rewrite. The pair were entitled to 8% of the producer profits once released. Davison's contacts with puppeteers, animators, and practical effects designers were essential to Verhoeven, who had no prior experience with them. Discussion was had between producers about changing the Detroit setting, but Neumeier insisted on its importance because of its failing motor car industry. A suggestion by Orion executives that was accepted was to have the connection between Clarence Boddicker and Dick Jones, who had no connection in the first script.