 Due to Schneider's alcohol problems, fickleness, and demands, the role was then given to Hanna Schygulla, her first collaboration with Fassbinder for several years.Yves Montand also showed interest in the film, but wanted to play Maria's husband Hermann and not – as suggested by Fassbinder and Fengler – the industrialist Oswald.As the role of Hermann was already promised to Klaus Löwitsch.