Schoenbrun began work on the script for I Saw the TV Glow three months after they had begun undergoing hormone replacement therapy, amid what they described as “overwhelming calamity” following having come out as transgender. In featuring the transgender themes, Schoenbrun deliberately avoided making transitioning or coming out explicitly central to the plot, opting instead to write the story as an allegory so as to distinguish it from other films on the topic.[8]
In 2021, the script caught the attention of Emma Stone and her husband Dave McCary, who, according to Schoenbrun, “fell in love with the script immediately.” The script was shopped around to six potential production partners.[8] In October 2021, the film was announced as an A24 production, with Schoenbrun directing and Stone and McCary producing under their production company Fruit Tree.[14] In August 2022, it was announced Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Helena Howard, Danielle Deadwyler, Amber Benson, Ian Foreman, Michael Maronna, Conner O’Malley, Emma Portner, Danny Tamberelli, Phoebe Bridgers, Lindsey Jordan, Fred Durst, Haley Dahl, Jonathan Chacko, and Kristina Esfandiari had joined the cast.[15][16]
Principal photography took place in New Jersey from July to August 2022.[17][18][19] Shooting took place at Verona High School, Cedar Grove High School and Keansburg Amusement Park. Other notable locations were the music venue The Saint and Camp Lewis.[19]