In 1983, Lauri Harjola, who later became known as Renny Harlin, along with producer Markus Selin, aimed to create the greatest movie in Finnish history. They ambitiously sought out the action film star Chuck Norris, who had risen to fame in the United States for his roles in low-budget action films. In a biography written by Veli-Pekka Lehtonen, Harlin recounts how the duo obtained Norris's agent's contact from a video company in Vaasa and sent the script for their film 'Wild Force'. To their surprise, Norris agreed to participate in the project, which was a huge boost for their ambitions.

However, the journey to secure Norris's involvement was not without obstacles. Harlin jokingly recalls how they followed up on their script submission via fax, only to receive a request for $350,000 to proceed. Despite the substantial financial ask, the aspiring filmmakers were determined and took extreme measures to gather the needed funds, selling possessions and borrowing money to make their vision a reality. This determination highlights the duo's ambition and drive to break into the international film scene with a strong leading actor.

In March 1984, the two traveled to Los Angeles to seek investors at film markets, a crucial step in turning their dream project into reality. They were eager to capitalize on Norris's star power, which they believed would attract significant interest and funding for their film project. However, shortly after getting the funding process underway, a sudden and unexpected phone call disrupted their plans, creating uncertainty about Norris's participation and putting their ambitious project at risk, showcasing the unpredictable nature of film production during that era.