Anthony Shaffer is the author of the original stage and film versions of Sleuth, cult horror The Wicker Man and Hitchcock's suspense thriller Frenzy. Before becoming a playwright, he worked as a barrister. He formed one of the most influential commercial production companies, Hardy Shaffer Ferguson Avery with Robin Hardy, who he would later collaborate with for Wicker Man. After the cult success of Wicker Man, Shaffer had a prolific career as an author and playwright until his death in 2001.

Robin Hardy began his directorial career making television drama in the US and Canada. He returned to London in the 1960s, working at Hardy Shaffer Ferguson. Hardy as directed, produced a number of films, and is also the author of several historical novels.