A pile of Lee Israel books ("Beyond the Magic", an unauthorized biography of Estée Lauder) are shown on sale at a bookstore for 75% off. Lauder was publishing her own memoirs and initially tried to pay Israel *not* to write her book, but she refused and rushed her book to publication. The autobiography was released in October 1985 and Israel's biography one month later. The book buying public chose to buy the Lauder autobiography rather than the Israel biography. Lee Israel later said she regretted not taking the money when it was first offered.
Julianne Moore was originally cast to play Lee Israel when Nicole Holofcener was attached to direct her own screenplay. When the two had very different ideas about how Moore would bring the character of Lee Israel to life, Holofcener fired Moore and the production subsequently fell apart. These circumstances led the way for Marielle Heller to direct and Melissa McCarthy to star. Interestingly, the film marks the only film Moore has ever been fired from in her decades-long career.
Melissa McCarthy's husband, Ben Falcone, was attached to the project before she was. He recommended her for the lead when another actor backed out.
Filmed over a 28-day period in Manhattan, New York.