Sally Potter and Tilda Swinton started collaborating on the project before a script had been written. This collaboration lasted five years before the film actually began shooting.
The drinking scene in the desert with Orlando and the Khan is based on what actually occurred with the production crew. Sally Potter set up a banquet in the desert to woo a local Russian mayor into letting them use a local castle for some shoots. During the banquet, some Russian alcohol was served by the mayor, but the production crew were unable to swallow the drink straight.