The idea for "Roar" was conceived after the couple toured several safari wildlife preserves and was struck by the scene of an abandoned plantation house overrun by lions.

The entire Marshall family moved along with their pride of 100 lions to a ranch property 40 miles north of Los Angeles and began shooting.  They were forced to film documentary style after they realized that they could rarely get through a scene without the lions attacking.

The cast suffered serious injuries over the 11 years the movie was filmed. Tippi Hedren endured a fractured leg and deep scalp wounds. Noel Marshall was gored so many times that he was eventually hospitalized with gangrene. And their daughter, Melanie Griffith, was mauled by a lion, resulting in over 100 stitches and reconstructive surgery. Her real-life mauling is on display in the final cut of the film.