In the creation of the film, screenwriter William Broyles Jr spent a few days alone on an isolated beach near Mexico’s Sea of Cortez, to get an idea of what it was like.

But in 1998, a call came into Team Sports Communications Manager Molly Wallace that was unlike any she’d ever received. After receiving the photo, the team didn’t hear from Fox Studios again until the film was set to begin industry screenings in LA. And assoon as the screenings began, calls started rolling in. Wolf, Matt (February 26, 2001). " 'Gladiator' Gets 5 British Awards". Topeka Capital-Journal. Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 9, 2017 . Retrieved October 9, 2013. At the time, Wilson volleyballs had “Wilson” printed on both sides of the ball, but Fox specifically requested volleyballs with one side blank. Says Davenport, “ We had no idea why they needed that, but we did it. We special-made 60 one-sided volleyballs and sent them off to Fox.”The 6th Critics' Choice Movie Awards Winners and Nominees". Broadcast Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on January 4, 2012. IASIP - Rum Ham - The whole Story, archived from the original on December 11, 2021 , retrieved March 22, 2021

The representative from Fox explained that the film would be a bit unusual because it wouldn’t have much of a supporting cast. But hedid disclose the film’s leading man.

Wilson Brand Volleyball

There were several more real life castaways over the years, some of whom had ended up in isolation by force, and others of their own accord. It just so happened that, later that same week, Fox was holding a critics’ screening of "Cast Away" at the Siskel and Ebert Theatre in downtown Chicago. Rather than explaining the plot over the phone, Fox invited Wallace, Davenport, and Kuehne to attend the screening.

a b c "Cast Away". Chicago. August 2007. Archived from the original on October 29, 2012 . Retrieved December 27, 2008. Cast Away' Delivers Goods For Fedex". Chicago Tribune. 2001. Archived from the original on February 24, 2014 . Retrieved October 23, 2014. In Cast Away, the volleyball is named Wilson. Now, you’re married to the wonderful Rita Wilson, who I love, I adore, we all do,” Sean said on the podcast. “Was that by design because it could have been called Spalding?”We truly didn’t have a clue what the ball’s involvement would be walking into that theatre,” Davenport recalls. “I remember walking out of the screening thinking ‘ holy [expletive]!'’ We knew we (as a company) had to do something.” It was a representative from 20th Century Fox, one of the most prominent production companies in the world. He explained to Molly that the studio was about to start filming a movie and hoped Wilson could provide some balls to be used in the film. A look at some of the biggest hits in film and TV product placement". The Hollywood Reporter. April 28, 2005. Archived from the original on September 3, 2006 . Retrieved November 25, 2007.