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 Far from the Madding Crowd (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 The Queen (2006).