The film is based on the graphic novel ''Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout'' by Lauren Redniss. This is director Marjane Satrapi's first film based on a graphic novel that she didn't write. Two of her films, "Persepolis" and "Chicken with Plums," are based on graphic novels written solely by Satrapi.
The film's UK March 20th 2020 wide release was indefinitely delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Gabriel Lippmann was the doctoral advisor of Marie and Pierre; Pierre was the advisor of Paul Langevin; Langevin was the advisor of Irène and Frédéric Joliot-Curie.
In the UK, the film had a number of special screenings on March 8th 2020 across the country, ahead of the film's intended March 20 wide release, in celebration of International Women's Day. This is also the day that the red-carpet premiere was held in London.
Rosamund Pike (Marie) and Harriet Turnbull (Young Marie) starred as mother and daughter in the 2014 film, What We Did On Our Holiday.