The Jupiter 1 (the booster stage for the Jupiter 2 craft) bears a strong resemblance to the craft in the original TV series.

Originally, all surviving cast members of the TV show were meant to have cameo appearances. Mark Goddard, the original Major Don West, plays the General. June Lockhart, the original Maureen Robinson, plays Will Robinson's principal. Marta Kristen and Angela Cartwright, the original Robinson girls, play reporters. Ironically, Bill Mumy and Jonathan Harris, the two actors most supportive of the idea of a new movie (as well as the two most popular characters on the show), did not appear in it. Mumy wanted to play the older Will Robinson but the director thought it would be too distracting from the plot to have the original Will play the older Will. Harris was to have played the man who hired, then betrayed, Dr. Smith. In an interview for "TV Guide" prior to the film's release, it was mentioned that Jonathan Harris bluntly stated, "I will have you know I have never done a walk-on or bit part in my life! And I do not intend to start." He announced that if he could not play his own role in the movie, he wanted nothing to do with it. He did return as Dr. Smith in a one-hour TV special
Lost in Space Forever (1998).

Dick Tufeld reprises his role from the TV series as the voice of the Robot.

Both actresses that have appeared on the big and little screen as Penny Robinson have both also lent their talents to two separate versions of Babes in Toyland.

The television series
"Lost in Space " (1965) was set in the future of 1997 - the year the film began production.

The Jupiter 2 control room has computer displays by Silicon Graphics.

In the original script and movie adaptation, it wasn't Silicon Graphics who co-sponsored the Jupiter mission, it was Coca-Cola.

Matt LeBlanc filmed his role while
"Friends " (1994) was still shooting, and had to fly back and forth between sets several times per week in order to do both projects at the same time.

Gary Oldman is listed twice in the ending credits, credited as "Dr. Smith" and again as "Spider Smith".

Ib Melchior was given screen credit and worked as special advisor to 'Mark Koch' in
Lost in Space (1998) because he was the creator of the original "Space Family Robinson," (1960) - a screenplay, which became Irwin Allen's
"Lost in Space " (1965) TV series. Melchior was never credited for the creation, until the details were exposed in Ed Shifres' "Space Family Robinson: The True Story" (Windsor House - 1996) and re-published as "Lost in Space: The True Story" (Windsor House - 1998). The book was extremely controversial and earned Melchior a monetary settlement and recognition as the creator of what became Lost in Space. The book was critically acclaimed with excellent reviews from Hollywood notable writers.

All principals actors were contracted to a three picture option, but as the film failed to recoup its budget in North America, plans for a new franchise were scrapped.

Despite opening in theaters on April 3, "Lost in Space" was the first new film of 1998 to open at 1 at the box office. This was due to the incredible 15-week reign of
Titanic (1997) at the top spot, which began in late December. Since it finally knocked "Titanic" out of the 1 spot on the box office charts, for a short time after its release the movie was given the nickname "The Iceberg".

Sean Patrick Flanery was originally cast as Don West, but he was let go while the project was still in rehearsal because it was thought that he too closely resembled William Hurt. The part, played by Matt LeBlanc, was also previously offered to Matthew Perry.