The Bounty Hunter Durge from Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003) was considered for this story and received a major redesign. But Dave Filoni preferred to create a new character and after more changes, renamed the character "Nom Kahbah". George Lucas then came up with the name 'Cad Bane' and to base the character on actor Lee Van Cleef.
In this story, Cad Bane is already familiar with Anakin Skywalker because chronologically it takes place after the 'Holocron Heist' story arc that opens season 2.
Originally Ziro the Hutt was supposed to have new tattoos to represent his time spent in prison. However, this proved too time consuming and costly and the idea was scrapped.
First series appearances of Cad Bane, Ziro the Hutt, Bail Organa and the bounty hunters used by Bane.
"Hostage Crisis" is an homage to Die Hard (1988) in which New York City cop John McClaine gets caught up in a hostage situation in Los Angeles.