The film was announced in March 1964 as "A King Is Born". It was "suggested" by a novel by Eleanor Shipley Duckett from a script by James R. Webb, who had written "How the West Was Won" for Smith. Filming was to take place in Ireland, with MGM financing. However it took a number of years for the film to be made. Peter O'Toole was mentioned as a possible lead. In February 1967, the lead role was given to David Hemmings, who had appeared in MGM's "Blowup".