Netflix’s Untamed, a new thriller series starring Eric Bana as an investigator in Yosemite National Park, is one of the streamer’s most popular shows right now.
In the series, Bana plays Kyle Turner, an agent with a troubled past whose investigation of a brutal murder sends him on a collision course with the dark secrets within the park — and within himself.
With an 80 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the Netflix series is definitely a success — but will it be returning for more episodes?
Watch With Us has the scoop on Untamed season 2.
Has ‘Untamed’ Been Renewed for a 2nd Season?
Yes! On Tuesday, July 29, Netflix announced that they were picking up Untamed, originally conceived as a limited series, for a second season.
What Has the Creative Team Said About Season 2?
Netflix’s official publication Tudum published a statement from Bana on Tuesday. “I am absolutely thrilled that we get the chance to bring another season of UNTAMED to life. The response to Season 1 has been a testament to the incredible effort by our crew to deliver something truly unique,” said the actor. “I can’t wait to take Kyle on his next journey. Massive thanks to Netflix, John Wells Productions, Warner Bros. Television and our fans.”
Series creators Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith explained that the idea for season 2 came about naturally as they were working on the first season. “Elle and I envisioned it as a stand-alone, [with just] six episodes,” Mark told Tudum. “But then the more that we got into it, it was just such a great cast … it was just like, ‘Oh yeah, how do we keep this going?’”
What Will Season 2 of ‘Untamed’ Be About?
At the end of season 1, Turner left Yosemite, saying goodbye to some of his emotional baggage related to the park. In season 2, the creators say, he will be solving a new mystery at a new national park.
“This won’t be the first park he’s been in since Yosemite,” Mark Smith told Tudum. “He’s been to a lot of parks. He’s been busy, taking on a lot of cases. This will be the latest, and it’ll be more impactful for him.”
Elle Smith told the outlet that their goal was to put Turner in a park that felt very different from Yosemite. “Each national park has such a different cultural identity, geographical identity. Being able to explore those places through the case and through Turner’s journey is what’s so fascinating.”
Which Cast Members Will Return for Season 2?
Bana’s return for season 2 is confirmed, but the rest of the cast’s status is uncertain because of the different setting. In fact, Mark Smith told Tudum that meeting a new cast of characters in a new park will be a major element of Turner’s arc in season 2.
“Turner was so comfortable in Yosemite,” the writer explained. “He was the one leading this charge, and people followed him. And now, [we’re] putting Kyle on his back foot, making him very uncomfortable … This time we get to follow Turner into a park and let him lead us, and we stumble along with him as he’s kind of finding his way.”
Fans can rest assured, however, that any new characters will be just as complex as those portrayed by Sam Neill, Rosemarie DeWitt and Lily Santiago in season 1. “We’re going to make sure we populate it with characters that are interesting and help him in ways both good and bad,” Mark told Tudum.
While most of the season 2 cast will be new, Mark also said that they hope to bring back other cast members from the first season. “My God, we loved our cast and we loved the characters that they brought to life,” he told the outlet. Bringing back cast members would have to make sense for the story, Mark explained, but “in an ideal world, we would be able to pull something off.”
When Will ‘Untamed’ Return?
There’s no premiere date yet for Untamed season 2, but keep an eye on this page for updates from Watch With Us!
Watch Untamed season 1 on Netflix now.