A Time to Kill Trivias

The film takes place in Canton, Mississippi, rather than the fictional "Clanton" of the novel.

Paul Newman was offered the part of Lucien Wilbanks, but declined since he doesn't like being in films with violence. Donald Sutherland was then cast as the hard drinking, retired law school professor and unofficial father figure to Jake Brigance.

Kiefer Sutherland and father Donald Sutherland appear together in the movie. Kiefer and Sandra Bullock were dating at the time.

John Grisham has worked with director Joel Schumacher before on the film adaptation of The Client with Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones. While only his book was the basis for his involvement with that film, Grisham took an active role in this film's production as a producer. The reason, as Grisham explained it, was that A Time to Kill was his first book and the favorite one out of all of his works, and he wanted to see its adaptation done to his standards.

There were several names being mentioned for the part of Jake Brigance before it went to Matthew McConaughey such as Val Kilmer, John Cusack, Robert Downey Jr., Aidan Quinn and Brad Pitt. Woody Harrelson had lobbied for the part and Kevin Costner was close to being cast, but Grisham axed Costner since the actor wanted complete control of the project. McConaughey was originally going to play Freddie Lee Cobb, but put his hat in the ring by speaking to Joel Schumacher and convincing him for an audition. Schumacher videotaped the audition and decided that McConaughey was right for the part. He then approached Grisham and showed him the audition, which sold Grisham on casting him. Donald Sutherland's son Kiefer Sutherland was then cast as the villain.

Bruce Dern was the original choice for the role of Judge Omar Noose. However, Patrick McGoohan was cast when he proved unavailable.

Samuel L. Jackson's line of "Yes, they deserve to die and I hope they burn in Hell!" from the movie was used repeatedly in the ads and trailers, and has become a well known line by Jackson. He used it once during a promotional interview at the San Diego Comic Con for Snakes on a Plane, and Dave Chappelle used the line to close out his "Samuel L. Jackson Beer" skit. Dave Chappelle also used the line in the "Star Wars Jedi Scandal" skit, after being asked if he believes the Jedi knights should die for sexually assaulting jedi padawan he replies "Yes they deserve to die and I hope they burn in hell".

Most of John Grisham's books take place in Mississippi, but this book takes place in Clanton, Mississippi. It show's references to the book The Summons. It has such similarities as Claude's diner, Harry Rex Vonner, and the same town name. Grisham also uses Clanton in the books, The Last Juror, and The Chamber.

In a close up scene of Ellen in the diner, her bra strap is showing but in the wide shot, her bra strap is back under her shirt.Sudden switch to night as the Klansman rolls around trying to put out the fire on him.When Jake is giving his final summation and Lucien enters the courtroom, he stands at the back. Lucien is missing in subsequent shots of the room, only to return at the end of the summation.

During the picnic at the end of the movie, we see a black youth (with a dark scarf on his head) standing in the yard gathered with other people. Immediately afterward, there's an aerial shot looking down at the picnic, and we see the same youth coming down the front porch steps.In the establishing aerial shot of the courthouse, the flag flying below the Stars and Stripes is the state flag of Arkansas, not Mississippi, where the story takes place.

Roark was seen pulling up outside Jake's office right before the boys hearing, before Carl Lee killed them. She later said she was in town because of Carl Lee and to help with the case. There was no case yet when she arrived in town.When Rufus Buckley is shown from afar, just before questioning Cora Mae Cobb, she is not in the stand. However, the next cut reveals her to be in the stand.

Bruce Dern was the original choice for the role of Judge Noose, but other commitments meant that he was ultimately unavailable.Matthew McConaughey did the summation scene at the end in one take. The tears were unscripted.

Donald Sutherland reportedly wanted his character, Lucien Wilbanks, to be much more of a radical drunkard, as written in the book. But director Joel Schumacher disagreed, saying it would be too much comic relief in what he wanted to be a mostly serious drama.

Matthew McConaughey was originally cast in Kiefer Sutherland's role of Freddie Lee Cobb, but after reading the script, he decided that he would prefer the role of Jake Brigance. He went to director Joel Schumacher, who granted him a private screen test.Kevin Costner was considered for the role of Jake Brigance, but wanted complete control of the project. Author John Grisham objected and Costner passed on the project.

Woody Harrelson wanted to play Jake Brigance, but author John Grisham objected to his casting.Paul Newman was offered the part of Lucien Wilbanks, but turned it down.

Joel Schumacher originally offered the lead role to Val Kilmer during the production of Batman Forever (1995), but Kilmer declined.This is Joe Seneca's last film.