Many of the cast members were current or former porn actors at the time, or were people associated in some way with the Los Angeles porn industry. Writer-director Ninja Thyberg met many of them during the research and writing period and told interviewers many of them were excellent improvisational actors.
Before acting in Pleasure, Sofia Kappel had no prior roles in any film- or TV-productions. She applied to the role as a step in her CBT-treatment with the goal to challenge herself and do something uncomfortable.
This project originally grew out of a essay Ninja Thyberg wrote about the porn industry for a gender studies class. She also explored the subject in Pleasure (2013), an award-winning short film.
Shot during a 25 day period in September to October, 2018, with some additional scenes shot one year later in Sweden.
Ninja Thyberg's extensive research for the film included living in a model house similar to the one where Bella and Joy live.