In addition to being loosely based on a novel by Thomas Hardy, including a character who is writing a book about Hardy, and having a photograph of Hardy prominently displayed in one scene, the location filming was done in Dorset, where most of Hardy's novels are set - "Wessex" being a thinly fictionalized Dorset. The small ad for the writers' retreat that appears at the beginning of the film is also headed with the title of the novel: "Far from the Madding Crowd".
The movie is based on a graphic novel by Posy Simmonds, which itself is based on a Thomas Hardy novel.
Jessica Barden, who plays Jody, also acted in Lejos del mundanal ruido (2015) which this movie was loosely based on.
Posy Simmonds' original graphic novel is essentially a reworking of Thomas Hardy's "Far from the Madding Crowd".
Stephen Frears was keen to work with Roger Allam again, having enjoyed directing him four years earlier in La reina (2006).