hardcoded_url_field.py

from rest_framework import serializers

class HyperlinkedIdentityField(serializers.HyperlinkedIdentityField):
    """
    This is a performance wrapper for HyperlinkedIdentityField.
    We save a ton of time by not calling reverse potentially
    thousands of times per request.
    """

    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        self.view_url = kwargs.pop("view_url", "")
        super(HyperlinkedIdentityField, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)

    def field_to_native(self, obj, field_name):
        return "http%s://%s%s" % (
            "s" if not settings.DEBUG else "",
            self.context["request"]._request.META["HTTP_HOST"],
            self.view_url % obj.id,
        )

# Example : 
# items = HyperlinkedIdentityField(view_url="/api/subscriptions/%s/items/",
#    view_name="subscription_item_list", pk_url_kwarg="subscription_id")

I know its been a long time @stephenmcd but the improved version of the code won't work as Django is stateless and the urls dict will just reset after each request, sir. You would have to use cache to set the url.