The film is based on Takeshi Kawata's novel 'Kuraishisu niju-goju nen' ('Crisis: Year 2050') which was published only in Japan. Joe Gannon adapted the screenplay. Tedi Sarafian, director Richard C. Sarafian's son (credited as Crispan Bolt in the US version) did rewrites, apparently without Gannon's knowledge as he wrote his second draft.
When the film opened in Japan in 1990, it underperformed, so the producers extensively recut and reshot scenes to secure an American distributor. Director Richard C. Sarafian was unhappy with how this turned out, and had his name removed from the credits and replaced with the Director's Guild of America alias Alan Smithee. Sarafian's son, Tedi Sarafian, who performed rewrites, was credited as Crispan Bolt.
Prior to production, producers James Nelson and Richard Edlund brought in Rene Balcer for an uncredited rewrite of the script.
The film takes place in 2050.