Carax said about the leading role which had been written specifically for Lavant: "If Denis had said no, I would have offered the part to Lon Chaney or to Chaplin.
Carax sade om huvudrollen, som han specialskrivit för Lavant: "Om Denis hade tackat nej till filmen, skulle jag erbjudit rollen till Lon Chaney, eller till Chaplin.