''This Boy's Life'' is adapted from
Tobias Wolff's
1989 memoir, recounting his experiences with abusive stepfather Dwight Hansen in the 1950s. The screen rights were acquired by
Peter Guber, head of Guber-Peters Productions at
Warner Bros. Pictures, shortly after the memoir's 1989 publication. Following Guber's departure to lead
Sony Pictures Entertainment,
Art Linson assumed the role of producer. Although Guber is credited as an executive producer alongside his producing partner
Jon Peters, Warner Bros. initially hesitated to produce the film, deeming it commercially unviable due to its child-abuse story. Despite this, director
Michael Caton-Jones insisted on the project, and the studio relented due to Caton-Jones's successful directorial track record. After Guber obtained the rights, screenwriter
Robert Getchell expressed interest in writing the script. Getchell, known for adapting Tobias Wolff's older brother's memoir,
Geoffrey Wolff's
The Duke of Deception, was captivated by the brothers' stories and was eager to adapt the younger brother's memoir. The film adaptation altered Geoffrey Wolff's name to Gregory. Tobias Wolff also requested changes, such as renaming his mother from Rosemary to Caroline to reflect scenes created by Getchell that were not in the original book, depicting marital discord between his mother and stepfather Dwight. This alteration transformed the true story into a work of fiction, a fact initially contested by Wolff. However, after viewing the finished film, Wolff approved, recognizing that his mother might be upset about the name change. Initially,
Debra Winger was to star as Caroline but withdrew due to scheduling conflicts, leading to
Ellen Barkin taking the role. Actor
Robert De Niro, playing the abusive stepfather Dwight, extensively consulted with Tobias Wolff while preparing for the role. However, De Niro chose not to contact the real-life Dwight, who eventually died before filming commenced. ==Release==