Actor Daniel Day-Lewis, who is the director's husband, suggested Travis Fimmel to her for the role of Guy after seeing him in Vikings (2013).
The first time John visit's Maggie's apartment and questions her about all the books, she tells him that she's subletting it from a poet. Director Rebecca Miller said she modeled the apartment after one she sublet years ago from poet W.S. Merwin.
Second film in which Julianne Moore plays a character employed by Columbia University after Still Alice: Mein Leben ohne Gestern (2014).