The film began its development as Neighborhood Watch in early 2008, with Levy developing the project over three years (based on an idea by 20th Century Fox executive John Fox).
該部電影最早在2008年初開始發展，當時的片名為《Neighborhood Watch》，李維負責該片的開發部分三年以上（根據二十世紀福斯執行長約翰·福克斯的想法）。