The film premiered at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival on October 25, 2013. Sales for Djinn were launched at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival in February 2013 and continued at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival the following May. Image Nation's CEO Michael Garin denied these reasons and blamed the delay on meeting the Directors Guild of America's requirements. The paper reported that unofficial reasons included people related to Abu Dhabi's royal family finding the film 'to be politically subversive', horror films being 'seen as totally foreign, culturally speaking' in the United Arab Emirates, and local pride that led to 'rewrites and restructuring'. In December 2012, The Guardian covered the film's delay and cited multiple reasons. The National reported in January 2012 that a website said that Image Nation turned down two distribution offers, but Image Nation denied this and said the film took longer than expected in post-production. The studio promised a theatrical release in early 2012 then in mid-2012 neither release transpired. It was offered 'a red-carpet premiere' at the 2011 Dubai International Film Festival but was not screened at the festival. The film had a test screening in December 2011 in London, which 300 moviegoers attended. In February 2011 Fortissimo Films acquired the right to represent international sales for Image Nation's films, including Djinn. By late August 2011, the film was in post-production. In Al Jazira Al Hamra, the cast and crew avoided using the word 'djinn' and also taped over the film's title on the director's chair. The subject matter was treated with caution so it would not offend local values in the different towns where filming took place. With a production budget of US$5 million, filming began in the United Arab Emirates in late March 2011 and took place at several locations throughout Dubai. The screenwriter learned about local stories told in the region. Tully came up with the premise for Djinn when an Emirati friend brought him to a village similar to the one in the film.

He said Djinn had minimal gore, similar to Hooper's previous films The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and Poltergeist (1982). Tully said films about the djinn were very uncommon, only recalling Wishmaster (1997). The film is the first supernatural thriller film in both English and Arabic languages. Emirati director Nayla Al Khaja joined the project as a cultural consultant. The project was set up by Imagenation Abu Dhabi (now Image Nation) in February 2011. It remains unclear if the djinn are exactly the same as the Jinni of Asgard, the Jinn, or the Djinne, but they all seem to share similarities.Djinn is directed by Tobe Hooper based on a screenplay by David Tully. While the exact powers and even their level of servitude differ, they all possess some form of magical abilities and are often sworn to serve another. Throughout existence, there have been a number of different kinds of djinn. Phenomenal Cosmic Power, Itty Bitty Living Space There have been individual rivalries and enmities, but as a whole the djinn have not had any major enemies or allies known to the world-at-large. Given the unique nature of their relationships with humans, djinn have been known to resent those whose wishes they grant, sometimes reveling in how short-sighted mortals can be. The extent of their magical powers remains a mystery, but seems to vary from one to another. Other djinn seem to be linked to people instead of objects. When called forth, the djinn usually has to grant a variety of wishes, some-times a limited number, sometimes not.

While some are able to live freely and wield their power as they see fit, others find themselves bound to objects (like lamps or books). Out of the BottleĪll djinn are magical creatures with powers far beyond that of mortals. Others say that Lilith, the mother of monsters, birthed them on Earth. Some say that the magical beings were born on another planet or realm. The true origins of the djinn have not been fully revealed. Djinn, or genies, possess their own magical powers, but are sometimes forced into a kind of servitude wherein they must serve others, sometimes in limited bursts.

Djinn 2013