The Widow was created and written by brothers Harry and Jack Williams, and was released as a co-production between British ITV and Amazon Prime Video.

The series was filmed across multiple locations including South Africa, Wales, and Rotterdam to depict its various settings.

Star Kate Beckinsale was hospitalised after passing out while shooting a scene, as the extreme heat at some filming locations proved difficult for her.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a 56% approval rating based on reviews from 27 critics, with the consensus praising Beckinsale's action performance while criticizing the show's problematic tropes and unsatisfying twists.

The show premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 1 March 2019 before later airing on British network ITV starting 8 April 2019.