Writer Louis de Bernières re-wrote the book approximately thirty-five times, to ensure he had gotten details told to him by locals as accurate as possible.
Roger Michell was originally set to direct, but then suffered a heart attack. John Madden stepped in to replace him. Michell even threw a little Easter egg into his previous movie when he was still scheduled to make this one. He had Hugh Grant reading the novel in one scene in Notting Hill (1999).
The gorget patch that Corelli wears in his uniform belongs to the 33º Reggimento artiglieria terrestre "Acqui" that took part in the Invasion of Greece and the battle of Cephalonia.
Was originally to be directed by Roger Michell, but he had to drop the assignment after suffering a heart attack.
The cast includes three Oscar winners: Nicolas Cage, Penélope Cruz, and Christian Bale; and one Oscar nominee: Sir John Hurt.