Clyde the Organgatan from the hit Clint Eastwood films, Every Which Way But Loose (1978) and Any Which Way You Can (1980) showed up at Menahem Golan's office in which he shamelessly pitched this film to Clyde's agents in an attempt to sign him for his Cannon productions. When that didn't happen, he presented director Boaz Davidson with Deep Roy (who would eventually dress up as a monkey) and brazenly told him, "Meet your new monkey!"
At some point Bud Spencer was considered in the role of Big Bad Joe, promotional material with him having already been made. It was also considered to use a real trailed ape in the role of Bonzo.
One of two films that David Mendenhall would be involved with Menahem Golan in some capacity. Golan would direct Mendenhall in Over the Top (1987) with Sylvester Stallone and the screenplay for this film was written by Golan.