The US Marshals Service established its legal presence in Antarctica in 1989. It's under the jurisdiction of the US Attorney for Hawaii.
Dominic Sena is a fan of the "Whiteout" graphic novel, and when rights were acquired by Dark Castle Entertainment Sena petitioned president Joel Silver for the opportunity to direct.
Warner Bros. shelved the film for about two years, according to Entertainment Weekly (Issue #1085).
Screenwriter and novelist Alexander Stuart wrote an early draft of the script, while Reese Witherspoon was still attached, following a studio-sponsored research trip to Barrow, Alaska (the northernmost point in continental North America) - which scientists said was the closest location in "feel" to McMurdo Station in Antarctica.