Of her role as Joleen, Charlize Theron said, "I have to say that I really like the idea of playing somebody who was a flawed mother. She's an uncomfortable character, yet to me, very real. There are women out there who are just not good mothers, and Jolene is one of them."
The working title for this production was "Ferris Wheel."
Sleepwalking (2008) featured the song "Come On, Come Out" by A Fine Frenzy AKA Alison Sudol. It premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2008, and was given a limited theatrical release beginning on March 14, 2008.
Overture Films acquired domestic distribution rights for $4 million at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Purchase was based on 45 minutes of footage from the uncompleted film.