It is widely speculated that the shelving of the film despite its completion is due to allegations against James Franco on-set. It was reported in 2019 that Franco allegedly performed unsimulated oral sex on an actress in the film by taking off her prosthetic genitals and against her consent. Some including the victimized actress believe that scene was kept in the film. Following the surfacing of her story, the film's production company decided to indefinitely delay the film's release and as of 2024, have not announced a release date. To this day, Franco has denied the accusations brought against him and has demanded a compensation from the actress for false allegation.
As of 2024, it has not been finalized whether the film would be released or not, despite its completion in 2015.
Filmed in and around Hamilton, Ohio.
James Franco previously directed Josh Hutcherson in the film In Dubious Battle. It was during the shooting of this film that Franco showed Hutcherson the script for The Long Home and offered him the lead role.
Principal photography began on May 1, 2015 in Hamilton which coincided with filming of another Franco film, Goat, and were shot "pretty much simultaneously" and then began in Eaton on May 17. Production on the film wrapped on May 23, 2015, with filming lasting 23 days.