FILM · 2004 · USA
The Stepford Wives
28 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (28)
- #001
The Stepford Wives was extensively re-edited and rewritten after test screenings, with new scenes shot and others deleted. Attempts to appeal to audience tastes backfired, as the new edits and scenes created continuity errors and major story problems.
- #002
The film was initially going to keep the book's ending, but it was changed after test audiences disliked it. The book ends with a strong implication that the robot Bobbie kills Joanna.
- #003
The location used for the Men's Club's domed space was the same one used in the original film.
- #004
The film had a highly troubled production, including conflicts between director Frank Oz and stars Nicole Kidman and Bette Midler. In later interviews, Kidman, Matthew Broderick and producer Scott Rudin expressed regret at being part of the film. Kidman was reportedly unhappy with the script's rewrite and nearly left the project. Oz admitted he felt he made too many mistakes, cared too much about what studios, audiences and producers wanted, and ultimately delivered a substandard project, and he expressed regret over his involvement.
- #005
Nicole Kidman accepted her role in the film upon learning she would work with Frank Oz; she is a big fan of Miss Piggy and this was the closest she could get to "working with her."
- #006
The trailer includes clips from scenes not used in the final film, such as Bette Midler's character experiencing some "technical" problems and repeatedly saying "Good Bye."
- #007
Tim Burton was at one point attached to direct.
- #008
During post-production, a new scene was shot in March 2004: it showed businesswomen in Manhattan heading to work in heavy Manhattan morning traffic. It was intended to be the film's "new" opening scene, immediately before the Network Affiliate scene. This scene was later cut entirely from the film before its official theatrical release in June 2004.
- #009
The film was actually a co-production between Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures. Paramount acquired DreamWorks in 2006, giving it worldwide rights to the film and eight other films the two studios co-produced; two of these were still in production at the time of the merger.
- #010
Nicole Kidman was reportedly paid 15 million dollars for the film's production.
- #011
According to test screenings, Nicole Kidman had to pause The Interpreter (2005) for a few days in order to shoot a bit more.
- #012
When Walter enters the laboratory where the Stepford Wives are transformed, he is given the name "Member 1956." This is the same number Joanna enters into the front door code to let herself in.
- #013
Christopher Walken and Glenn Close also play love/married roles in Sarah, Plain and Tall (1991) and Hallmark's sequels.
- #014
It is one of three films Frank Oz directed as remakes of earlier films; the others are Little Shop of Horrors (1986) and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), the latter a remake of Bedtime Stories (1964).
- #015
It was shot over a period of 7 months. The shoot was quite stressful, and director Frank Oz had to take a short break after 3 months.
- #016
In a recent interview, Nicole Kidman said that when she met Matthew Broderick on set, she had almost forgotten that 10 years earlier he had auditioned for (and nearly played) the Riddler in Batman Forever (1995).
- #017
Bette Midler's character wears a T-shirt depicting the English hard rock band Deep Purple's (Mk II lineup) "Perfect Strangers" album and 1984/5 tour.
- #018
The film's cast includes two Oscar winners, Nicole Kidman and Christopher Walken, and two Oscar nominees, Glenn Close and Bette Midler.
- #019
The film reunites Matthew Broderick with his Biloxi Blues (1988) co-star Christopher Walken.
- #020
There is a real gap of only 13 days between the ages of the Kresby children, Pete and Kimberly. Dylan Hartigan was born on May 8, 1996, and Fallon Brooking was born on May 21, 1996.
- #021
While Bobbie, Joanna and Roger are at Bobbie's house, the series playing on the television is Cartoon Network's Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law (2000).
- #022
The women find a T-shirt in the trash with Viggo Mortensen's face printed on it. Viggo played Nicole Kidman's former suitor in The Portrait of a Lady (1996).
- #023
In the book, Joanna shares the surname Eberhart with her husband. In this film, Eberhart is her maiden name, which may indicate that she is "independent" by way of Walter rather than the original Joanna.
- #024
The film is set in Connecticut. Glenn Close was born and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut.
- #025
Matthew Broderick and Nicole Kidman are left-handed.
- #026
This is Danika Yarosh's debut.
- #027
This is Fallon Brooking's debut.
- #028
The actresses Mary Beth Peil (Helen Devlin) and Carrie Preston (Barbara in the "I Can Do Better Clip") both appeared in The Good Wife (2009) as recurring characters, playing Jackie Florrick and Elsbeth Tascioni respectively.
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