Director Peter Weir asked tribal Aboriginal actors David Gulpilil and Nandjiwarra Amagula about the script and incorporated their reactions to the finished dialogue.
The city of Adelaide doubled for the city of Sydney a lot in this movie. During production, Sydney experienced harsh weather conditions with constant heavy rain. Such weather, ironically, had to be recreated in Adelaide, which was sunny and pleasant during filming.
Prior to the casting of Richard Chamberlain in the lead role, two Australian actors were considered. One was rejected and the other wasn't available. A short-list was made of six actors who had international recognition. Chamberlain was sent the script which he thought interesting but was at first cautious about making a film in a foreign country and with a director he was unfamiliar with. Peter Weir visited Chamberlain at the Broadway Theatre where he was starring in 'Night of the Iguana' and the two clicked. Chamberlain was then screened Weir's previous film Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) where the film had yet to be shown at all in the USA. Chamberlain liked this film and at some time soon after this, Chamberlain was signed.
Director Peter Weir states in an interview on the DVD that this film asks the question: '"What if someone with a very pragmatic approach to life experienced a premonition?"'