Trivia / Dumplin'

• Approval of God: Dolly Parton gave her permission to use her songs in the film, and was also persuaded to write some new ones too.
• California Doubling: The film takes place in Texas, but was filmed almost completely in Georgia.
• The Cast Show Off: Maddie Baillio was cast as Millie because Julie Murphy (author of the original book) had seen her in Hairspray Live and wanted her in the film to show off her singing.
• Dawson Casting: The beauty pageant participants are in high school. Yet the actors playing Willowdean, Ellen, Hannah, Millie, Bo, and Bekah are all in their twenties.
• Fake American: Danielle Macdonald (Willowdean) is from Australia, and Odeya Rush (Ellen) is from Israel.
• Harpo Does Something Funny: Most of Candee Disch's lines were improvised, and the scene of Willowdean being taught a magic trick (where the scarf tears) was completely real.
• Playing Against Type: While the movie is still a comedy, it's quite surprising to see Jennifer Aniston playing an out of touch, embarassing mother figure.
• Real-Life Relative: Husband and wife Dan Finnerty and Kathy Najimy both star.
• Separated-at-Birth Casting: The actresses playing Willowdean and Lucy really do look like they could be related.
• What Could Have Been:
  • Joshua Allan Eads (Ginger Minj) ended up getting an expanded role after the producers loved her work so much.
  • James Corden turned down the role of Lee.
  • Kathy Najimy replaced Ann Mahoney as Millie's mother.