The 1997 film:
- Cast the Runner-Up: Vivica A. Fox had initially auditioned for the role of Teri which ultimately went to Vanessa Williams, but the casting director liked her so much, that she was cast as Maxine instead.
- Enforced Method Acting: Vanessa Williams' "Fuck the family!" line was ad-libbed, catching everyone in the scene by genuine surprise.
- What Could Have Been:
- Halle Berry and Whitney Houston were at one point considered for the role of Teri.
- Regina King, Jada Pinkett Smith and Kenya Moore were considered for the role of Bird. The consideration for Regina King in the role becomes Hilarious in Hindsight when you consider the one episode of The Boondocks where Huey, voiced by King, pauses the episode to summarize this film and mention the film's Forgotten Aesop of how the unhealthy food eventually resulted in Big Mama's death.
- Courtney B. Vance was originally offered the role of Kenny, but declined due to prior commitments. Malik Yoba also wanted to portray Kenny, but couldn't find the time due to his work on New York Undercover.
- During the scene with Lem in the bar, a James Brown song was supposed to play, but Fox couldn't get the licensing rights.
The 2000-2004 series:
- Actor-Shared Background: Boris Kodjoe's bio is virtually identical to his character's—born in Germany to a white, German psychologist mother and black father whose parents later divorced. The key difference is that Kodjoe's father is Ghanaian, Damon's is African-American.
- Romance on the Set: From the series, between Nicole Ari Parker (Teri) and Boris Kodjoe (Damon Carter). They eventually married and had two children.
