‘Widow’s Bay’ Season 2 Won’t Arrive Until 2028, Matthew Rhys Reveals
Few shows have taken off quite like ‘Widow’s Bay’. Apple TV’s comedy-horror series from creator Katie Dippold premiered on April 29, 2026, and quickly became one of the year’s biggest breakout hits.
The awards recognition followed swiftly. The show earned a staggering 19 Emmy nominations, and star Matthew Rhys took home Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series while also sharing in the Outstanding Comedy Series win as an executive producer.
With a second season already confirmed, fans have been eager to learn when they can return to the cursed island. Now Rhys has offered a clear answer, revealing that ‘Widow’s Bay’ Season 2 won’t arrive until 2028.
Rhys shared the update while promoting his new Paramount+ animated series, ‘Golden Axe’. When asked about the timeline, he explained that the show doesn’t start shooting until next year, saying, “It’ll be 2028, because we don’t start shooting ’til April of next year,” he told The Direct.
He added that production is set to begin at the end of April 2027. That lines up with earlier comments from Dippold, who said at a Collider panel during San Diego Comic-Con that she hoped to film the second season in 2027.
The timing reflects the show’s previous production schedule. Season 1 filmed in Massachusetts in June 2025 and premiered roughly 10 months later. Apple TV renewed the series on June 11, ahead of the Season 1 finale.
Matt Cherniss, Apple TV’s head of programming, praised the show for hooking audiences with its eerie mysteries, unexpected laughs, and cursed secrets. Dippold returns as showrunner, and the writers’ room has already begun work. Rhys, however, has joked that the writers aren’t giving much away.
The first trailer for ‘WIDOW’S BAY’ has been released. The horror series follows a town mayor who refuses to bow to the superstitions of the residents who claim that the place is cursed. Releasing April 29 on Apple TV. https://t.co/j0wTqizQJB
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 2, 2026
In an interview with E! News in August, he recalled eagerly asking the writers to reveal what’s next for his character. According to Rhys, they told him they genuinely didn’t know yet. The series follows Mayor Tom Loftis, a skeptical leader of a superstitious island town off the coast of New England.
Tom is determined to bring tourism to the sleepy community, even as the locals insist the island is cursed. Season 1 ran for 10 episodes, with the first 3 debuting on launch day and new episodes arriving weekly through June 17.
Hiro Murai directed 5 episodes, with Ti West, Sam Donovan and Andrew DeYoung also behind the camera. The ensemble includes Kate O’Flynn, Stephen Root, Kingston Rumi Southwick, Kevin Carroll and Dale Dickey. Hamish Linklater and Betty Gilpin also appeared as guest stars.
The update caps an incredible year for Rhys. At the 2026 Emmys, he also won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series for the crime thriller ‘The Beast in Me’. With so much acclaim behind it, ‘Widow’s Bay’ has plenty of pressure on its second outing. Fans will need to be patient, but the wait could make the return to the island even more rewarding.
No plot details for Season 2 have been revealed yet. Still, the Season 1 finale left plenty of mysteries for the writers to explore. For now, viewers can revisit the first season on Apple TV while the team prepares to head back into production next spring.
Are you willing to wait until 2028 for ‘Widow’s Bay’ Season 2?
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!
