Original cut of the film which was filmed in 2017 and shelved until its official release in September of 2020 was longer and darker, showing more of a disturbing reality of love hotels, and with more graphic and longer sex and nudity scenes. However some time before release the film was cut down in order to tone it down and attract more wider audience. This is also why most of Alexandra Daddario's nude scenes were heavily cut down. For example, originally the "sex montage" was longer and it showed her character having rough sex with more men and it also included some topless scenes from her. Despite the rumors there never was any full frontal or lesbian scenes filmed with her. Reportedly, original cut was about 45 minutes longer than final version. It has not been finalized whether a director's cut or an unrated version would be released.
In 2006, Kate Bosworth acquired the film rights to Lost Girls & Love Hotels by Canadian novelist Catherine Hanrahan. The film, which was to be titled after the novel, was to star Bosworth as the lead character Margaret and be her first foray as a producer.
In October 2017, it was announced that Alexandra Daddario would star in a newly produced adaptation under the title I Am Not a Bird, which would later revert to its original title. Hanrahan was hired to adapt her own novel and William Olsson was hired to direct.[3] The rest of the cast, including Carice van Houten and Takehiro Hira, was announced in November 2017. Filming took place in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan, from October 27 to December 15, 2017.
Alexandra Daddario and Kate Easton(Louise) are actually good close friends who shared a house together. Alex has a YouTube channel that she shows VBlogs with Kate.