[Tokolosh]

Trivia for
The Departed (2006)

Martin Scorsese wanted to shoot the film in Boston, where the story is set. But due to concerns on setting up production and politics, the producers chose New York City to double for Boston because of the state's 15% tax credit. The bulk of the movie was shot in New York City while a six week shooting schedule was split in two for Boston, shooting the first half in June and the second half in August.

Gerard McSorley was originally slated to play Queenan but had to drop out of the project.

As research for his character's occupation, Matt Damon worked with a Massachusetts State Police unit out of Boston. He accompanied them on routine patrols, participated in a drug raid and was taught proper police procedures like how to pat down a suspect.

Originally, Jack Nicholson turned down his role in the movie, but after a meeting with Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio, he was finally convinced to play the role of Frank Costello. The main reason he joined the production was because he had previously done a few comedies, and wanted to play a villain again, and he considered the character of Costello to be the ultimate incarnation of evil.

Robert De Niro was set to play the police chief, Oliver Queenan but his commitment to his directorial feature, The Good Shepherd (2006) forced him to drop out.

The film's technical advisor was Tom Duffy, a retired detective who worked out of Boston for nearly thirty years and specialized in organized crime. He was particularly involved in the case against notorious South Boston gangster Whitey Bulger, whom Jack Nicholson's Frank Costello is partly based on.

Martin Scorsese had originally wanted to cast a known actress, either Kate Winslet or Hilary Swank, for the part of Madeleine. But he later decided to go with someone new instead (Vera Farmiga).

Leonardo DiCaprio was cast in the title role in The Good Shepherd, but he dropped out to play Billy Costigan in this movie.

This film is originally based on the Hong Kong thriller WuJianDao. Martin Scorsese like the film so much he bought the credit for the film and adapted it to an American storyline.