According to the book, "The Case for Reincarnation" by Joe Fisher, the screenplay for "Audrey Rose" was inspired by an actual incident in author De Felitta's life. Hearing expert ragtime piano coming from his family's music room, he was astonished to discover it was being produced by his six-year-old son, who had never had a music lesson. "My fingers are doing it by themselves, Daddy!", the boy said. "Isn't it wonderful?" The experience set him to contemplating the possibility of reincarnation.
A common misconception is that Brooke Shields tested for the role of Ivy. She posed for the cover art for the bestselling book, but that was the extent of her involvement.