The scene in Stuntin' Like My Daddy (2019) in which Rue and her mother Leslie fight was completely improvised. Creator Sam Levinson told Nika King (Leslie) one thing: "whatever happens, don't let her go." This is later improvised again in Stand Still Like the Hummingbird (2022).
Creator Sam Levinson used his own drug addiction from his teen years to infuse Rue's drug addiction storyline.
Zendaya's 2020 win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series makes her the youngest actress to win in that category, at 24 years old.
Hunter Schafer (Jules) and Barbie Ferreira's (Kat) personal experiences helped creator Sam Levinson write their character's storylines.
While shooting the pilot, actor Brian "Astro" Bradley, 22, a former The X Factor (2011) contestant and rapper signed to Nas' label, wanted out of the show. Details surrounding his exit are fiercely guarded, but sources say Bradley was uncomfortable shooting scenes that weren't in the original pilot script and suggested his character would experiment with homosexuality in future episodes. After a lengthy back-and-forth with producers, HBO stepped in and replaced Bradley with The Hate U Give (2018)'s Algee Smith. They reshot his parts in the pilot, including an intense sex scene with 21-year-old actress Sydney Sweeney, who says of the recasting, "Let's just say I'm very glad that Algee is playing the character."