Around 2002, Jessica Biel was gaining recognition for her role as Mary Camden on the popular family drama series 7th Heaven, which she had been part of since 1996. Her performance on the show helped establish her as a rising star in Hollywood, though she began seeking more mature and diverse roles around that time to break away from her wholesome TV image.

In the early 2000s, she appeared in films like The Rules of Attraction (2002), a dark comedy-drama based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis. This role marked a significant shift in her career, showcasing her willingness to take on edgier material and expand her range as an actress. This period laid the groundwork for her later success in action and thriller films throughout the 2000s.