Van Dormael began seeking to film "Mr. Nobody" in 2001, an attempt that lasted six years before the director was able to make his English-language feature debut in 2007. This project differed from other Belgian productions in being filmed in English instead of in one of Belgium's main languages. The director explained, "The story came to me in English. It's a story set over very long distances and time frames. One of the strands of the plot is about a kid who must choose between living with his mother in Canada or his father in England. There are also some incredible English-speaking actors I wanted to work with." The production budget for "Mr. Nobody" was €37 million, ranking it the most expensive Belgian film as of 2008. The budget was approved before casting was done, based on the prominence of the director's name and the strength of his script. The film utilizes nonlinear narrative and the many-worlds interpretation to tell the life story of the last mortal on Earth, Nemo Nobody, portrayed by Jared Leto.