Robert Firth was slated to play a different character in the project - Zach Galligan was initially considered for the role of Frankie Loomis. But, when Joe Dante cast Galligan in Gremlins 2: The New Batch, executive producer Dusty Kay was on a desperate search for his replacement. With just a few days before principal photography was to begin, and with much resistance from the network, Kay allowed Firth to audition for the role of Frankie.