!!The book
* SequelFirst: In the afterword to some editions of the novel, Gaiman refers to it as Book 2 of a trilogy he hasn't gotten around to writing yet.
* WriteWhoYouKnow: The beech tree that talks to Tristran and offers him advice is based on Gaiman's friend Music/ToriAmos.

!!The film
* AllStarCast: Oh yes -- Creator/RobertDeNiro, Creator/MichellePfeiffer, Creator/ClaireDanes, Creator/RickyGervais, Creator/MarkStrong, Creator/SiennaMiller and then-unknowns Creator/CharlieCox, Creator/BenBarnes, and Creator/HenryCavill...Heck, even TheNarrator is Sir Creator/IanMcKellen, and Creator/PeterOToole is a OneSceneWonder as the King of Stormhold. Not to mention cameo appearances by Creator/RupertEverett, [[Film/HarryPotter Mark Williams]], and Creator/NathanielParker.
* BillingDisplacement:
** Creator/RickyGervais is featured on the poster, yet he appears in only ''three'' brief scenes before ''dying''.
** Creator/ClaireDanes gets top billing despite not being the protagonist. The main character is then-unknown Creator/CharlieCox's Tristan.
* BreakawayPopHit: "Rule The World", created by Music/TakeThatBand while they were in their white hot post-reunion phase, quickly became one of their biggest hits, divorced from any association with the film, and it remains a staple at their live performances.
* CastTheRunnerUp: Creator/BenBarnes was the favourite choice for Tristan. He was instead cast as Young Dunstan Thorn.
* CowboyBebopAtHisComputer: Many reviews of the movie mention the Lightning Pirates as an example of ways in which the movie was different from the book, claiming that they do not appear in the book at all. This is untrue -- it's just that what happens on their ship is glossed over in the book, and expanded on here. The film does invent some attributes: the airship crew in the book are not pirates, just fishermen of a sort who harvest lightning -- though it is heavily implied to be very illegal, so they are still pirates of a sort, and their captain was not an (admitted) cross-dresser.
* DarkhorseCasting: Creator/MatthewVaughn intentionally cast the then-unknown Creator/CharlieCox because he wanted an actor who could play a dork and easily transition into a suave and handsome gentleman.
* DawsonCasting: 18-year-old Tristan is played by the 25-year-old Charlie Cox.
* DeletedScene: Several that change the tone of the story. A scene at the ending establishes Tristan and Yvaine as a MayflyDecemberRomance, with Yvaine outliving Tristan by a long time, as they are in the book. In the actual film, Tristan is immortal because he "possesses the heart of a star", though after reigning for about 80 years he and Yvaine feel it's time for them to pass the Crown on. So they light the Babylon Candle and are transported to the heavens (and Tristan turns into a star!).
* FakeBrit: Creator/ClaireDanes and Creator/MichellePfeiffer do British accents, although their characters aren't [[FantasyCounterpartCulture exactly British]]. Captain Shakespeare speaks about "my beloved England" (of which he is a fanboy), and most everyone else in Stormhold speaks with a British accent, but Creator/RobertDeNiro uses his own accent. He was so good that nobody cared.
* InMemoriam: The film is dedicated to Mark Burns (New Bishop), who died before the film was released.
* MissingTrailerScene: [[https://youtu.be/VfYBKDyF-Dk?t=69 One trailer]] features a brief clip of [[https://66.media.tumblr.com/da31bcbf509835c79d5ebcc1c06d778a/tumblr_inline_nyo8iznWj61rsgw6y_1280.png all three of the evil witch sisters having restored their youth]]. In the film proper, only one of the witches, Lamia, becomes young, though there is a blink-and-you'll miss it moment in the flashback when the witches devour the first star.
* PlayingAgainstType: Mark Strong, who was then often cast as a one-note lover in period dramas, as the determined prince Septimus.
* PlayingWithCharacterType: Creator/RobertDeNiro's Shakespeare is introduced as a stern pirate captain, in line with De Niro's reputation for such roles as [[Film/{{Goodfellas}} a mobster]] or [[Film/{{Heat}} a bank robber with a noble code of honor]]... and then is quickly revealed to be a campy crossdresser.
* PropRecycling: The glass knife that Lamia uses was actually a prop made for ''Film/XMenTheLastStand'' when Creator/MatthewVaughn was still attached to direct. It would have been a weapon for Magneto.
* SeparatedAtBirthCasting: Charlie Cox and Ben Barnes, who plays the younger version of Tristan's father, look so similar some viewers have assumed Cox played the younger version of Dunstan as well.
* StarMakingRole:
** This was Creator/BenBarnes' feature film debut.
** This film helped Creator/MarkStrong break into Hollywood, typecasting him as an EvilBrit -- something he loved, having been stuck playing one-note lovers in period pieces beforehand.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** The studio really wanted a more recognisable name in the role of Tristan -- and they were pushing for Creator/OrlandoBloom. Once stars like Creator/MichellePfeiffer, Creator/ClaireDanes, and Creator/RobertDeNiro were attached, Matthew Vaughn was allowed to cast Charlie Cox.
** Creator/AnneHathaway, Creator/ScarlettJohansson, Creator/SarahMichelleGellar, and Creator/JessicaAlba all turned down the role of Yvaine.
** Creator/StephenFry and Creator/JackNicholson were considered for Captain Shakespeare.
** Creator/VinnieJones was originally offered the role of Ferdy.
** Creator/TerryGilliam was offered the chance to direct, but turned it down. Having just completed ''Film/TheBrothersGrimm'', he wanted a break from fairy tales.
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