For years it was alleged that title role was written with Aaliyah in mind and she had actually accepted the role but died in August 2001 before she had begun filming. In 2020, however, director Bille Woodruff dispelled this rumor and revealed that the role was actually written with Beyoncé in mind but Knowles was unable to due the project due to touring.
Romeo Miller (Benny) grew two inches and his voice deepened before shooting completed. In the scene where Benny and Raymond go to class and Honey says that she has to go to a video shoot, Romeo had to stand with his legs far apart in order to appear shorter, because he was as tall as Jessica Alba.
To prepare for her role as a dancer, Jessica Alba took ballet, jazz, and hip-hop classes six hours a day for more than three months.
The film is inspired by the life of choreographer Laurieann Gibson, she also appears in the film as the main character's rival, Katrina, and worked as the film's choreographer. She would reprise her role in the sequel Honey 2 (2011) although she is credited as Rebecca for some reason.
Instead of in New York City, where the film is suggested to take place, it was actually shot in Toronto, Canada.