While promoting this movie in an interview on the National Public Radio program 'Fresh Air', John Krasinski recalled that while he was casting the roles, Richard Jenkins wrote him an email that said, "Love the script. If you get Margo Martindale, I'll do it." Krasinski responded to Jenkins as though that was a joke, but Jenkins replied, "oh, I'm not kidding." "So I got Richard Jenkins. So as soon as Margo signed on Richard came with her, which is pretty phenomenal."
While promoting this movie in an interview on the National Public Radio program 'Fresh Air', John Krasinski recalled that his first professional job as an actor was as an extra in a Marshall's commercial in which the lead was Margo Martindale. While on that set, Krasinski got bumped up to "featured player," which meant that he got to interact with Martindale. Krasinski told the interviewer, "I didn't have lines. I think I was just the guy helping her pick out some very reasonably priced handbags."
Randall Park played John Krasinski's character, as 'Asian Jim' in an episode of the TV series The Office (2005).
Although it is never accentuated or joked about in the movie, the names of the men in the Hollars family all rhyme: Don, Ron and John.
While in production, director John Krasinski competed against star Anna Kendrick on the television game show Lip Sync Battle (2015).