Development ''She's Funny That Way
originated in the mid-1990s when People reported the film would be going into pre-production, with the title Squirrels to the Nuts'' and featuring
Tatum O'Neal in the leading role.
Peter Bogdanovich, who had worked with O'Neal on
Paper Moon (1973) and
Nickelodeon (1976), was quoted as saying "This movie is my gift to her." The script was co-written with his ex-wife Louise Stratten around 1999 and 2000. Bogdanovich and Stratten, who were in financial distress at the time trying to buy back
They All Laughed (1981), decided to write a comedy to uplift their spirits. While writing the script, Bogdanovich was inspired by an incident in Singapore during the time he was filming
Saint Jack in 1978, where he was able to talk to many prostitutes after hiring them for his film. He would give them more money than their salary for them to leave the prostitution business. Due to many people misinterpreting it as a children's film, Bogdanovich changed the title from
Squirrels to the Nuts to ''She's Funny That Way''.
Casting When the script was originally written, Bogdanovich envisioned John Ritter,
Cybill Shepherd and co-writer Louise Stratten in the lead roles. In 2012, when the film was officially announced, Wilson,
Brie Larson, and
Olivia Wilde were signed on in lead roles. Larson was to play the call girl-turned-ingenue actress and Wilde would play the role of her therapist.
Jason Schwartzman was also rumored to be in negotiations to play Wilde's playwright boyfriend. Due to production delays, Wilson is the only actor to remain with the project. In February 2013, it was announced that Jennifer Aniston would replace Wilde in the role of the therapist, the same time Kathryn Hahn, Cybill Shepherd, and
Eugene Levy were announced as cast members. Aniston was initially offered the part of Delta Simmons, Arnold Albertson's wife, but she favored the role of the therapist, in which she was cast. and
Richard Lewis were announced for roles of the ingenue and her father on July 22, with
Will Forte taking the role of a playwright two days later. The same week, the casting of
Joanna Lumley,
Lucy Punch, Bogdanovich's original version, titled
Squirrels to the Nuts lasted 113 minutes. However, he was compelled to change the film (along with its title) in order to get a release, which saw the eventual 94 minute version released to theaters that saw a modified opening and ending, deletions of music (such as the stylings of
Frank Sinatra and
Tom Petty), and a framing device of an interview that cuts in and out through the film.
Music On July 15, 2014,
Edward Shearmur was hired to score the music for the film, replacing
Stephen Endelman, who had already recorded music for the film by the time of the announcement. ;Soundtrack: • "Cheek to Cheek", written by Irving Berlin, performed by Fred Astaire • "Bill Bailey", arranged by Zoot Sims (as John H. Sims), performed by Zoot Sims • "Yankee Doodle", written by Richard Shuckburgh (uncredited), arranged by Ben Ashford • "Coco Beach", written and performed by David N. Wilson • "Lovers and Friends", performed by Frank & Friends • "Gabrielle", written by Charlotte Politte, performed by Charlotte Politte Trio • "Pass the Sauce", written by Marty Wereski (as Martin Wereski), performed by The JL Pasta Band • "Through the Years", written and performed by Anthony T. Hiebert • "Steppin' Out With My Baby", written by Irving Berlin, performed by Fred Astaire == Release ==