Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2017 and was originally supposed to be released in U.S. theaters in November 2017 . However, after Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual misconduct and rape by several women in a detailed article published by the New York Times in October 2017, the Weinstein Co. scrapped the original release date and sold the film to Lantern Entertainment, who later sold the film's U.S. distribution rights to 101 Studios. The film would finally be shown in movie theaters in Europe in July 2019 and the U.S. in October 2019.
Cragside House, one of the filming locations, was the home or Lord W. G. Armstrong, 1st Baron Armstrong. It was the first house to be lit by hydro electric power, using bulbs made by Joseph Swan, the inventor. Lord Armstrong was a manufacturer of armaments.
Producer Harvey Weinstein was in the midst of supervising the film's editing process when the New York Times published the first story alleging he sexually harassed members of his staff and fellow Hollywood actresses. Long after the infamous Weinstein scandal that sparked the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, The Current War (2017) was sold to 101 Studios, and a final cut is set to premiere in October 2019.
Jake Gyllenhaal was originally cast alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead role, however, Gyllenhaal dropped out and Michael Shannon was brought as a replacement.
Louis Ashbourne Serkis, who has a small role in this film, is the son of Andy Serkis, who played Tesla's assistant in Prestige - Die Meister der Magie (2006).