Where was ‘Widow’s Bay’ filmed? Inside Matthew Rhys' eerie coastal Massachusetts setting
A brand-new horror-comedy show starring Matthew Rhys will soon hit Apple TV. The show named 'Widow's Bay' focuses on a struggling New England town that has long been rumored to be cursed. Rhys plays the character of Mayor Tom Loftis, who takes it upon himself to change the titular town's image. For his son's future, Tom puts his all into making the town more tourist-friendly, despite warnings from the superstitious locals who believe that the land is cursed. As visitors began to flock to the town, though, the mayor noticed eerie occurrences, leading him to wonder whether the town was indeed cursed. The show's trailer is already out, and even though it's definitely more drama than comedy, the audience can see glimpses of the town that will drive the 10-episode series.
The town has an authentic feel, which has made many speculate about the show's actual shooting locations. Most of the filming took place in Massachusetts, specifically in Worcester, Essex, and Middlesex Counties. In Worcester County, the crew was given access to the county's historical seat for filming. In May 2025, the cast was seen shooting at Vincent’s Bar in Worcester City. Certain exterior scenes were also supposedly shot in the streets outside the bar. Filming units were spotted in the census-designated places of Devens, Berlin, and Harvard.
Prominent places in Essex County, such as Vita Bella Restaurant, Good Harbor Beach, and Bearskin Neck, were seen being used for filming around June 2025. According to reports, multiple locales in the town of Danver served as backdrops for several outdoor scenes in the show. From Middlesex counties, streets and neighborhoods in the towns of Wayland, Groton, Shirley, and Sudbury were used for filming. Stephen Root ('Office Space'), who plays Wyck in the show, called the filming locations "gorgeous" in his conversation with The Boston Globe. Root added that he and Rhys spent a lot of time indulging in the area's seafood delicacies.
He also shared that Massachusetts not only provided a beautiful backdrop for filming but also allowed the cast and crew to fully immerse themselves in the story, as the region does not shy away from flaunting its historical roots. “Places like Gloucester and Rockport, for me, just gave you that essence for free,” Rhys explained. “You don’t have to suspend any imagination. It’s all in front of you.” The Emmy winner further shared that Massachusetts added life to the show's comic elements. “There’s certainly a grittiness and saltiness that’s just intrinsic in Massachusetts that lent itself to those more humorous moments, without question,” the actor explained. “So that was a beautiful added bonus.”
Matthew Rhys, in the interview, claimed that creator, showrunner, and executive producer Katie Dippold made a "shrewd move" by setting the show in New England, because of the area's history and folklore. “You immediately have this kind of mythical mysticism surrounding it,” he explained. “That New England history so perfectly lent to this piece.” The show clearly states that 'Widow's Bay' is in New England, but it will never reveal its exact location, as per Dippold. “It’s a long ferry ride, you don’t know exactly if the ferry comes from Massachusetts or Maine, but I purposely wanted to keep that a little vague,” she shared. 'Widow's Bay' will release its first two episodes on Apple TV on Wednesday.
