 By July 1965, Bricusse followed up with a full script that included various song suggestions while effectively blunting the book's racist content in an adaptation that was met with approval from Josephine Lofting.For the director, Vincente Minnelli was initially attached with the project, but left before Bricusse was hired.William Wyler, George Roy Hill, and John Huston were considered, but Richard Zanuck settled on Richard Fleischer.