Tim Matheson was introduced to producer Daniel Grodnik by writer Charles Robert Carner. Tim was interested in learning how to produce. Grodnik told him, "if you ever bring me a piece of material that I like, you can be a producer on it with me." 2 weeks later Matheson screened 'Zatoichi Challenged' for Grodnik to develop as an American remake. It took 7 years, 3 studios, 2 directors, and 11 drafts of the script to finally get the film about a blind samurai in America made. Grodnik sold it to Jeff Sagansky, the president of Tri-Star Pictures, by pitching him two ad lines: 'Pray you see him before he hears you' and 'He don't need no dog.'