According to John Stockwell, having the popular Gina Carano come on-board is why they could find financing.
The film was shot in Puerto Rico from November 25 to December 26, 2012.
Gina Carano (Ava) and Amaury Nolasco (Silvio) have both starred in a Fast & Furious franchise movie. Gina played Riley in
Fast & Furious 6 (2013). Amaury played Orange Julius in 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003).
John Stockwell said they hadn't thought of casting Gina Carano yet when they started writing the script, but she was a prototype for the role after seeing her in Haywire (2011). They were excited when she later agreed to star.
Gina Carano and Ismael Cruz Cordova would both go on to star in The Mandalorian (2019) on Disney + in 2019.