Glendon Swarthout's novel was published in 1988. Paul Newman owned the rights, and wanted to direct the film himself. After several failed scripts, he gave up.
Grace Gummer, who appears here in her first major film role, co-stars with her mother, Meryl Streep, who has a supporting role.
Danish director Nikolaj Arcel recommended fellow Dane Sonja Richter for the part of Gro Svendsen. Arcel said Jones approached him a few minutes after A Royal Affair (2012) was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film.
Meryl Streep's first role in a Western.
Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones' scenes only took one day to film.