Untamed is an American drama and murder mystery television series created by Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith for Netflix. The series stars Eric Bana, Sam Neill, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lily Santiago, and Wilson Bethel. It premiered on July 17, 2025, and was renewed later that month for a second season.
Set against the backdrop of Yosemite National Park, the series follows a federal agent investigating the suspicious death of a young woman while grappling with his own personal tragedy.
Premise
When a woman is found dead in Yosemite National Park, Investigative Services Branch agent Kyle Turner is called in to investigate. Facing both the unforgiving wilderness and his own unresolved grief, Turner uncovers a network of secrets, corruption, and personal betrayals that test his loyalty to the truth and to those closest to him.
Cast
Main
- Eric Bana as Kyle Turner, an ISB special agent haunted by the loss of his son
- Sam Neill as Paul Souter, Yosemite’s chief park ranger and Turner’s mentor
- Rosemarie DeWitt as Jill Bodwin, Turner’s ex-wife
- Lily Santiago as Naya Vasquez, a rookie ranger assisting Turner
- Wilson Bethel as Shane Maguire, Yosemite’s wildlife officer and former Army Ranger
Recurring
- William Smillie as Bruce Milch, a veteran park ranger
- Raoul Max Trujillo as Jay Stewart, Turner’s Indigenous friend and cultural advisor
- Joe Holt as Lawrence Hamilton, the park superintendent
- Josh Randall as Scott Bodwin, Jill’s new husband
- Ezra Franky as Lucy Cook, the alleged victim
- Nicola Correia-Damude as Esther Avalos, a lawyer investigating a past disappearance
Episodes
The first season consists of six episodes, released simultaneously on July 17, 2025.
- A Celestial Event
- Jane Doe
- El-o’-win
- Gold Rush
- Terces
- All Trails Lead Here
The finale revealed a conspiracy involving Turner’s mentor, Souter, setting up new threads for season two.
Production
The series was developed by Warner Bros. Television and John Wells Productions, with Mark and Elle Smith serving as co-showrunners. Executive producers include Eric Bana, John Wells, Erin Jontow, Todd Black, Tony Shaw, Steve Lee Jones, Cliff Roberts, and Thomas Bezucha, who also directed episodes.
Filming began in Vancouver, British Columbia in June 2024, with Yosemite-inspired locations including Chip Kerr Park standing in for the national park.
On July 29, 2025, Netflix officially renewed Untamed for a second season following its strong debut viewership.
Release
Untamed premiered on Netflix on July 17, 2025.
Reception
Viewership
The series debuted at #1 on Netflix’s English-language TV chart, drawing 24.6 million views in its first week (July 14–20, 2025). In its second week, it retained the top spot with 26.1 million views.
Critical Response
On Rotten Tomatoes, Untamed holds an 82% approval rating, with the consensus:
“Wrangled by Eric Bana’s steady star power, Untamed’s solid murder mystery is elevated by the visually sumptuous backdrop of Yosemite.”
On Metacritic, it has a score of 62/100, indicating “generally favorable reviews.”
- Slate praised the show’s atmosphere and Bana’s performance, noting Yosemite’s setting as central to its appeal.
- The Guardian gave it 3/5 stars, calling it “not the smartest of thrillers, but visually striking.”
- IndieWire offered a harsher review, grading it C- and criticizing its lack of originality.
