Steven Spielberg bought the film rights in 1983, soon after the book was released.
There was one report where Martin Scorsese had originally purchased the film rights to Winter's Tale, but he backed out, deeming it "unfilmable".
Hans Zimmer had written most of the music for Winter's Tale (2014) before he had to leave to finish writing music for 12 Years a Slave (2013) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014). Rupert Gregson-Williams was hired by his friend Zimmer to write the remaining score and to collaborate with him on the whole score, overall.
According to Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe personally choreographed most of their fight scenes.
When Peter's parents are lowering him from the ship in 1895, the Statue of Liberty can be seen in the background, with the brown copper color it had.