Gaspard Ulliel went through an intensive physical training in order to prepare for the role. He ran, did indoor gym, workouts, and rope climbs for two or three hours four times a week for two and a half months. Ulliel said it was more subtle than pure bodybuilding because he was training with a coach who was a trapeze artist. Then there was the preparation and rehearsal for fights with Mario Luraschi. It was also with Luraschi that Ulliel had to train to ride a horse, but he didn't have much time for that, as he was already very taken by the physical preparation, the training of the fights with the stick, and by the training of the dance.
Jocelyn Quivrin was originally considered for the role of Jacquou but he turned it down because it did not interest him. Director Laurent Boutonnat then offered him the role of Count of Nansac and chose to rejuvenate the character.
The costume designers made 500 complete costumes for the extras and 100 for the main cast, which represents nearly 4,000 pieces of clothing. They required the use of approximately 10,000 meters of fabric and 10 months of preparation and production.