Ballard is a spinoff of both Bosch (2014–21) and Bosch: Legacy (2022–25), expanding the Bosch television universe that was announced in 2023.

The series is based on Michael Connelly's Renée Ballard novel series, drawing inspiration from novels such as The Late Show (2017), The Dark Hours (2021), and Desert Star (2022).

Michael Connelly, the author of the source novels, serves as co-creator and executive producer alongside series creators Michael Alaimo and Kendall Sherwood, who also serve as showrunners.

Several actors reprise their roles from Bosch and Bosch: Legacy as special guest stars, including Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch, Jamie Hector as Jerry Edgar, and Mimi Rogers as District Attorney Honey Chandler.

Principal photography for the first season took place from July to November 2024, filmed on location in Los Angeles to maintain visual continuity with the Bosch franchise.

All 10 episodes of the first season were released simultaneously on Amazon Prime Video on July 9, 2025.

The series received a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 22 critic reviews and a Metacritic score of 83 out of 100, indicating universal acclaim.

Ballard was renewed for a second season on October 6, 2025, shortly after its premiere.