UNTAMED: Season 2 Release Date Announced — Eric Bana’s Kyle Turner Emerges from the Shadows of Yosemite with a Fresh Mystery in a Brand-New National Park

Netflix’s gripping thriller series Untamed has captured audiences with its intense blend of mystery, personal drama, and the breathtaking yet perilous backdrop of Yosemite National Park. Starring Eric Bana as Kyle Turner, a haunted National Park Service Investigative Services Branch (ISB) agent, the show’s first season left viewers on the edge of their seats with its slow-burn suspense and shocking revelations. Now, fans can rejoice as Netflix has officially announced that Untamed will return for a second season, with a release date set for Summer 2026. This new chapter promises to take Kyle Turner to a different national park, presenting a fresh mystery that will challenge him in unprecedented ways.

A Successful Debut Sets the Stage

Untamed premiered on July 17, 2025, and quickly climbed to the top of Netflix’s most-watched shows, garnering 24.6 million views in just a few days. The series, created by the father-daughter duo Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, follows Kyle Turner as he investigates a mysterious death in Yosemite, uncovering dark secrets tied to the park and his own tragic past. The first season’s six episodes wove together a character-driven narrative, blending a murder mystery with themes of grief, redemption, and the untamed beauty of nature. With an 80% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 62, critics praised Eric Bana’s compelling performance and the visually stunning Yosemite setting, though some noted the story’s reliance on familiar crime drama tropes.

The season concluded with Turner solving the case of Lucy Cook’s death, a young woman who fell from El Capitan, revealing a complex web of betrayal and tragedy. However, the resolution came at a cost, as Turner confronted the truth about his son Caleb’s murder and his ex-wife Jill’s involvement in a revenge plot. By the finale, Turner left Yosemite behind, passing his horse and his son’s toy cars to rookie ranger Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago), signaling a new chapter in his journey. The announcement of Season 2, confirmed on July 29, 2025, has sparked excitement about where Kyle Turner’s story will go next.

Season 2: A New Park, A New Mystery

The upcoming season of Untamed will see Kyle Turner venture into a new national park, leaving the familiar terrain of Yosemite for an unfamiliar landscape. While the specific park has not yet been revealed, co-creators Mark and Elle Smith have teased that the new setting will be “as distinct from Yosemite as possible,” with a unique cultural and geographical identity. “Each national park has such a different cultural identity, geographical identity,” Elle Smith told Netflix’s Tudum. “Being able to explore those places through the case and through Turner’s journey is what’s so fascinating.” This shift promises to keep the park itself as a central character, a living entity that shapes the narrative and challenges Turner in new ways.

The new mystery will be tailored to the chosen park, ensuring that the case feels organic to its environment. Mark Smith emphasized the importance of avoiding repetitive plotlines, stating, “We can make the case organic to a different kind of park, a different kind of landscape, [and] not have someone just fall off another mountain.” This approach suggests that Season 2 will explore fresh themes and dangers, leveraging the unique features of the new park to create a distinct atmosphere. Whether it’s the dense forests of Great Smoky Mountains, the arid expanses of Death Valley, or the coastal wilderness of Olympic National Park, the setting will play a pivotal role in shaping Turner’s emotional and investigative journey.

Kyle Turner: A Hero Out of His Element

In Season 1, Kyle Turner was in his element in Yosemite, a seasoned agent who knew the park’s terrain and commanded respect from his peers. Season 2, however, will place him in unfamiliar territory, forcing him to adapt to new challenges and dynamics. “Turner was so comfortable in Yosemite,” Mark Smith explained to Tudum. “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 shift will see Turner take on a more vulnerable, rookie-like role as he navigates an unfamiliar park and its unique dangers.

Eric Bana, who also serves as an executive producer, expressed enthusiasm for this evolution in a statement: “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. I can’t wait to take Kyle on his next journey.” Bana’s portrayal of Turner—a stoic, grief-stricken lawman who rides a horse and embodies a rugged, almost mythic heroism—has been a cornerstone of the series’ appeal. His ability to convey silence and intensity, as noted by the Smiths, makes him the perfect fit for a character grappling with both external mysteries and internal demons.

Cast and Characters: Who’s Returning?

While Eric Bana is confirmed to return as Kyle Turner, the status of other Season 1 cast members remains uncertain due to the change in setting. The first season featured a talented ensemble, including Sam Neill as chief park ranger Paul Souter, Rosemarie DeWitt as Turner’s ex-wife Jill Bodwin, and Lily Santiago as Naya Vasquez. However, with Paul Souter and wildlife officer Shane Maguire (Wilson Bethel) dead by the end of Season 1, and Turner leaving Yosemite, it’s likely that most of the supporting cast will not return. Mark Smith hinted at the possibility of bringing back some characters, saying, “We’re trying to figure that stuff out because my God, we loved our cast and we loved the characters that they brought to life.” Lily Santiago, in particular, has expressed interest in reprising her role as Naya, suggesting a potential transfer to a new park to continue her growth as a ranger.

Season 2 will introduce a new cast of characters, described by Mark Smith as “interesting and help[ing] [Turner] in ways both good and bad.” These new faces will likely reflect the unique community and culture of the new park, adding fresh dynamics to Turner’s investigation. The interplay between Turner and these characters will be crucial, as the series aims to maintain its character-driven approach while exploring new relationships and conflicts.

Production and Release Timeline

Production for Season 1 began in June 2024 and wrapped in time for the July 2025 premiere, indicating a roughly one-year turnaround. Assuming a similar timeline for Season 2, filming is likely to commence in mid-2025, aligning with the projected Summer 2026 release. The series is produced by Warner Bros. Television and John Wells Productions, with Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith serving as co-showrunners and executive producers alongside Bana, John Wells, Erin Jontow, Todd Black, Tony Shaw, Steve Lee Jones, and Cliff Roberts.

While Untamed was filmed in British Columbia rather than Yosemite for its first season, the production team’s ability to recreate the park’s rugged beauty was widely praised. The new season’s location will likely require similar creative solutions to capture the essence of the chosen national park, ensuring that the visuals remain a standout feature.

Why Untamed Resonates

The success of Untamed lies in its ability to blend a gripping mystery with the awe-inspiring yet dangerous allure of America’s national parks. The series taps into the tension between humanity’s attempts to control nature and the wild, unpredictable forces that resist such efforts. Kyle Turner’s personal struggles—grieving his son, navigating his fractured marriage, and battling alcoholism—add emotional depth to the procedural elements, making him a relatable and compelling protagonist.

Season 2’s promise of a new park and mystery offers an opportunity to explore different facets of this theme, potentially delving into environmental issues, indigenous perspectives, or the cultural significance of the new setting. By placing Turner in an unfamiliar environment, the show can further examine his resilience and growth, keeping viewers invested in his journey.

Looking Ahead

As fans eagerly await Summer 2026, speculation about the new park and mystery is already buzzing. Will Turner face a case involving poaching, environmental crime, or another murder? Will the new setting amplify his sense of isolation or offer a chance for redemption? With Eric Bana’s commanding performance and the Smiths’ knack for crafting atmospheric thrillers, Untamed Season 2 is poised to deliver another unforgettable adventure.

For now, fans can revisit Season 1 on Netflix to relive the twists and turns of Yosemite’s dark secrets. As Kyle Turner prepares to step into a new wilderness, one thing is certain: the untamed heart of nature—and Turner’s own past—will continue to challenge him in ways he never expected.

Sources: Netflix Tudum, Variety, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic