 The original WGA-approved credits listed Hiroshi Takahashi (writer of the original 1998 screenplay for "Ring") but his name is absent from the final print.The film also sought to retain the minimalism that was prevalent throughout "Ringu" and was decidedly set in Seattle, due to its "wet and isolated" atmosphere.Verbinski also admitted to not wanting to cast "big stars" as he wanted his film to be "discovered" and describes the wave of harsh criticism from hardcore fans of the original Japanese film as "inevitable" although he expressed desire for hardcore fans of the original to find the remake as equally compelling.