Reportedly, the film was originally intended as a straightforward thriller starring Elizabeth Taylor and directed by Jeff Lieberman. However, the project was delayed and both left the picture.
Both the directorial debut and theatrical feature film directorial debut of the film's director Ed Bianchi.
This movie was controversial upon theatrical release due to the recent number of stalkings, harassment, shootings and even assassinations of celebrities. Stars at the time who had become victims of fan obsession included Jodie Foster, Jane Seymour, Larry Hagman, Persis Khambatta and Jacqueline Bisset. The Pope and Ronald Reagan had been shot at, whilst Sharon Tate, Dorothy Stratten and John Lennon all had been homicides. Paul Wilson wrote of The Fan (1981) in England's Photoplay magazine stating "When The Fan (1981) was released in America there was, not unnaturally, a public outcry for it echoes the killing of John Lennon. The [film] company put out a statement denying this, but the parallels are certainly there . . . Is there any wonder then, why there's been an outcry over The Fan (1981)?"
Lauren Bacall's character Sally Ross states, in exasperation, that she's fifty years old, and is concerned about her next Broadway opening. This makes the character about six years younger than the actress at the time of shooting. The character also jokes about "no more birthdays" and stopping at age 47...or 49.
The source novel, written by Bob Randall and published in 1978, which was before the cycle stalking of public figures became a major problem, was his first; its form is "epistolary", consisting of various letters between many of the characters.