On February 9, 2016, it was reported that Kristen Stewart, James Franco, and Helena Bonham Carter were circling the film JT LeRoy. Justin Kelly would direct the film based on Savannah Knoop's memoir Girl Boy Girl: How I Became JT Leroy.[4] On March 22, 2017, it was reported that Laura Dern was in talks to join the film. Dern would play Laura Albert alongside Stewart as Knoop.[5] On May 16, 2017, Diane Kruger joined the cast.[6] On May 23, 2017, Jim Sturgess joined the cast.[7] Before the film was fully financed, a skeleton crew attended the 2017 Cannes Film Festival to obtain some necessary footage. As of August 1, 2017, the film had begun principal photography in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Kelvin Harrison Jr., Courtney Love, and James Jagger also joined the cast.[8] As of August 18, 2017, JT LeRoy had wrapped filming.[9]
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 55% approval rating with an average score of 6.1/10, based on 87 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "While it may leave some viewers wishing for a more in-depth exploration of its story and themes, J.T. Leroy offers a diverting dramatization of incredible real-life events."[14] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 55 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[15]
