Wild Cards was announced by CBC in early June 2023 as part of its new dramas for the 2023–24 season, created with showrunner Michael Konyves, executive producer Shawn Piller, head writer/executive producer Noelle Carbone, and pilot director/executive producer James Genn.

The series is a Canadian-American co-production, made by Blink49 Studios, Front Street Pictures and Piller/Segan alongside CBC Television, with The CW joining as a U.S. co-producer in October 2023.

The two lead roles were cast in early October 2023, with Giacomo Gianniotti taking on the cop role and Vanessa Morgan cast as the con woman.

Jason Priestley joined the cast in December 2023 to play Max's father George Graham, whom she is trying to free from prison.

Martin Sheen appeared in season 2 as Joseph Edwards, a con man with ties to both Max and George.

Filming for the first season took place in Vancouver, British Columbia between July 24 and October 27, 2023, followed by a single additional day of filming in Toronto, Ontario.

Production on the third season began in Vancouver on August 28, 2025, as confirmed via a post on lead actor Giacomo Gianniotti's Instagram account.

The first season received a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 5 critic reviews.