P.J. Byrne, who plays Dr. Preston, has a cousin in real life that is treating the Crowley children at St. Peter's University Hospital in New Jersey.
This is his first film since Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) where Harrison Ford has not had his name first in the credits.
The story of the real John Crowley himself is very interesting. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy, and has degrees from Georgetown University, Notre Dame, and Harvard Business School. Crowley has dedicated his life to work in the health field, and seeking remedies for rare diseases. He co-founded a biotech company that he heads as of 2018. His charitable and philanthropic work is widespread. He has served on the national board of directors of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America since 2009, and became its national chairman in 2014.
In a bonus documentary on the DVD of the movie, producer Michael Shamberg talks about Harrison Ford's role as a scientist, Dr. Stonehill. Shamberg says, "He's rewritten the scientific language so it's completely accurate, and he will sound to real scientists like a real scientist. That's how methodical and serious an actor he is."
Even though the scenes were shot around the Portland area, a significant part of the film is set in Seattle, where Brendan Fraser studied acting at Cornish College of the Arts and where both of his parents reside.