Trivia / Soldier

• Box Office Bomb: The film only grossed $15 million against a $75 million budget.
• Development Hell: The movie had been planned for over 12 years before it finally went into pre-production.
• Dyeing for Your Art: Kurt Russell took on a vigorous workout schedule of four hours a day for over a year to get himself into military shape.
• Money, Dear Boy: Kurt Russell hasn't said that he didn't like the movie itself, but did state that he only took another action film at his age because he wanted the paycheck... and only stuck with it after breaking an ankle and a foot because he still wanted that paycheck. On the other hand, he really dedicated himself to preparing physically for the role.
• Playing Against Type: Gary Busey usually plays over the top villains. Here, he plays a restrained and generally moral leader who cares about the men under his command.
• Real-Life Relative: One of the younger versions of Todd is played by Kurt Russell's son, Wyatt.
• Star-Derailing Role: Kurt Russell's stint as a leading man in feature films ended when this film tanked, compounded with 3000 Miles to Graceland also failing three years later. He got a brief comeback opportunity when Miracle became a surprise hit in 2004, before Poseidon bombing two years later snuffed it.
• Throw It In!: Mekum wetting his pants when he sees Todd alive and well and back to punish him was not in the original script, it was improvised on set: the "urine" dripping out of Mekum's pants was actually pineapple juice.
• What Could Have Been:
  • According to various sources, the film was originally intended to show the Battle of the Tannhäuser Gate referenced by Roy Batty at the end of Blade Runner, and apparently showed the Gate as a "huge planet-wide wall of metal bristling with futuristic weapons". The sequence was cut for budgetary concerns, and the only completed remnant was shown in the theatrical trailer.
  • Kurt Russell had stated that a sequel had been planned should it have done well. Unfortunately, the movie was a Box Office Bomb.
  • Keanu Reeves was signed on to play the lead originally, but had to drop out. Sylvester Stallone was also offered the role.

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