Ursula K. Le Guin, author of the novels on which the production is based, was critical of the adaptation. Among her complaints was the "whitewashing" of her characters' races (in the novels, few of Le Guin's characters are white). Le Guin also resented a statement published by director Robert Lieberman intoning that she approved of his take on her story.
At least 24 of the actors also appeared in Stargate SG1 or Atlantis.