For all its perceived faults, there’s no denying that Netflix does mysteries extremely well. Be it foreign or domestic, the streaming service has produced a lot of great gems over the years, and it’s hoping that it has another on its hands by way of Untamed. Starring Eric Bana and Sam Neill, the new limited series is set to hit Netflix in July, and promises to show fans Yosemite National Park like never before.
Highlighted by TUDUM, all six episodes of Untamed will drop on July 17, 2025, with each one being an hour in length, so there’s plenty to get lost in as you try and solve the mystery. Focusing on Bana’s character of Kyle Turner – a special agent in an elite branch of the National Parks Service – the series traces what happens after a murder takes place in Yosemite, which is visited by around four million people each year. Also starring Lily Santiago as rookie park ranger Naya Vasquez, Untamed will further examine the dark secrets lurking in both Kyle and the park’s past, which may be just as dangerous as the murderer.
Speaking with TUDUM, co-showrunner/creator Mark L. Smith told Netflix that his aim with Untamed is to subvert expectations as to what everyone thinks Yosemite is all about, and instead show the various threats that lurk within. “Everyone thinks of Yosemite as this beautiful place with all the vistas and all the scenery, but we were trying to touch on the dangers that are just beyond that,” he said, adding:
“I love stripping all the cheats away, stripping all the more modern tools that people can use. It really gets down to the character and what they can find within themselves.”
Who’s At the Heart of ‘Untamed’s Mystery?
Also at the helm of Untamed is Elle Smith, so not only does it come from the same creator behind American Primeval and The Revenant, but The Marsh King’s Daughter, as well. Billed as a character-driven thriller, she told TUDUM that when it comes to Santiago’s role of the rookie park ranger, she represents all of us trying to understand what Yosemite National Park is all about:
“Because Vasquez is new to the park, we get to see the park through her eyes. We get to understand what this job is, and see the beauty of the park, but also the dangers.”
When it comes to Neill’s character, look for him to portray Paul Souter, the chief park ranger in Yosemite who’s a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and friend to Bana. He’s comfortable with all facets of his job, whether it’s dealing with crime inside the park or with the surrounding bureaucracy, but we suspect there might be more to him than meets the eye.
Featuring a wide-open setting similar to shows like Yellowstone and its many spin-offs, we’re hoping that Untamed will be able to deliver on all that it promises to be. We’ll find out on July 17 when all six episodes hit Netflix.
