Eric Bana’s ‘Untamed’ Trailer Drops Ahead of July 17 Netflix Premiere
A gripping new mystery thriller is heading to Netflix, and I’m already hooked. The first trailer for ‘Untamed’ just landed, giving us a taste of what’s coming when the show premieres on July 17. Starring Eric Bana, this six-episode series promises a dark, character-driven story set in the wild beauty of Yosemite National Park.
Bana takes on the role of Kyle Turner, a seasoned agent with the National Parks Service’s Investigative Services Branch. His job is to keep order in the vast, untamed wilderness, but a brutal murder in Yosemite pulls him into a web of secrets—both within the park and his own past. The trailer teases intense moments, with stunning shots of towering cliffs and dense forests contrasted by an eerie sense of danger. It’s clear this isn’t just a whodunit; it’s a deep dive into the human side of solving crimes in nature’s backyard.
Joining Bana is a stellar cast, including Sam Neill as Paul Souter, the park’s veteran chief ranger and a close friend to Turner. Lily Santiago plays Naya Vasquez, a rookie ranger with a sharp mind, while Rosemarie DeWitt and Wilson Bethel round out the ensemble. The trailer hints at their chemistry, with tense exchanges and glimpses of personal stakes that make this more than a standard thriller.
The series comes from writers Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, a father-daughter duo who know how to craft raw, emotional stories. Mark, known for his work on ‘The Revenant’ and ‘American Primeval’, brings his knack for harsh, unforgiving settings. ‘The Revenant’, released in 2015, followed a frontiersman’s brutal survival tale, earning critical acclaim and multiple Oscars. ‘American Primeval’, a 2025 Netflix series, explored the gritty origins of the American West. With ‘Untamed’, the Smiths aim to peel back the beauty of Yosemite to reveal its hidden threats, and the trailer delivers on that promise with chilling visuals and a moody tone.
Bana, who also serves as an executive producer, is no stranger to intense roles. From playing the Hulk in 2003’s ‘Hulk’ to leading the crime drama ‘Dirty John’ in 2018, he’s shown he can handle complex characters. Here, he looks right at home navigating both the wilderness and his character’s inner struggles. The trailer’s quick cuts of him tracking clues and facing danger suggest a performance that’s both gritty and grounded.
Filming took place in British Columbia, with locations like Chip Kerr Park standing in for Yosemite’s rugged terrain. The production, backed by Warner Bros. Television and John Wells Productions, also includes executive producers John Wells, Erin Jontow, Todd Black, Tony Shaw, Steve Lee Jones, and Cliff Roberts. Their combined experience—spanning projects like ‘The West Wing’ and ‘The Equalizer 3’—adds weight to the series’ potential.
The trailer’s haunting final moments, with a whispered warning and a glimpse of a skeleton in the woods, left me eager for answers. ‘Untamed’ looks like a must-watch for anyone who loves a good mystery with heart. Mark your calendars for July 17, and get ready to dive into the wild with Eric Bana.