Tom Cruise reportedly wasn't happy with the American cut of this movie and wouldn't talk about it for years because of it. He very much encouraged fans to go with the Director's Cut.
In the European release print, the face of lead villain Darkness (Tim Curry) can't be seen until one hour and three minutes in (more than two-thirds through).
Filming was interrupted twice, firstly by the studio burning to the ground and secondly, by the death of Tom Cruise's father.
The famous scene in which Jack (Tom Cruise) takes Princess Lily (Mia Sara) to see and touch the unicorns was filmed within the gardens of Pinewood Studios. At the time of filming, the vast forest set had been destroyed by a fire. This information was stated by (Ridley Scott) on the director's commentary on the Ultimate Edition DVD. Pinewood Studios were built on the grounds of Heatherden Hall, a historic "stately home" also seen in many Pinewood films, so the gardens were long established, and suitable for the dense greenery required for Legend.
Ridley Scott was inspired to cast Tim Curry as Darkness after seeing The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). He had also considered casting Richard O'Brien as Meg Mucklebones.