UNTAMED Season 2 Lands October 3, 2025: Kyle Turner’s New Journey into a National Park’s Dark Secrets

Netflix’s gripping crime drama Untamed has captured audiences worldwide with its moody atmosphere, complex characters, and the breathtaking yet perilous backdrop of America’s national parks. After a highly successful first season set in Yosemite National Park, the series is set to return for its second season on October 3, 2025, as confirmed by recent industry sources. This season promises to thrust National Park Service Investigative Services Branch (ISB) agent Kyle Turner, played by the commanding Eric Bana, into a fresh mystery in a new national park, where an unexpected encounter with an old family landmark will deepen the emotional stakes of his investigation. Here’s everything we know about Untamed Season 2, from its plot and cast to the thematic evolution and what fans can expect from this thrilling continuation.

A New Park, A New Mystery

Season 1 of Untamed, which premiered on July 17, 2025, saw Kyle Turner unravel the dark secrets surrounding the death of Lucy Cook in Yosemite National Park. The six-episode arc blended a taut murder mystery with Kyle’s personal struggles, including grief over his son’s death, a fractured marriage, and battles with alcoholism. The season’s resolution, while tying up the central case, left Kyle at a crossroads, driving away from Yosemite with a sense of closure but also an open road ahead. This set the stage for Season 2, which will take Kyle to a new national park with a distinct cultural and geographical identity, as teased by co-showrunner Elle Smith in an interview with Netflix’s Tudum.

The new season will pick up with Kyle after he has worked several cases across different national parks, reflecting the real-life mobility of ISB agents who travel from park to park to investigate crimes. Unlike Yosemite, where Kyle was in his element, Season 2 will place him “on his back foot,” according to co-showrunner Mark L. Smith. “He’ll be in a land where he doesn’t understand all the dangers and the risks, and he doesn’t understand the people around him,” Smith told Tudum, hinting at a setting that will challenge Kyle in unfamiliar ways. While the specific park has not been officially confirmed, speculation among fans on platforms like Reddit points to iconic locations like Yellowstone, Glacier, or the Smoky Mountains, each offering unique terrain and cultural dynamics to shape the new mystery.

The central plot of Season 2 will revolve around a new investigation, distinct from the El Capitan murder of Season 1. According to sources, Kyle’s investigation will lead him to the heart of the new park, where he will encounter an old family landmark tied to his past. This landmark—potentially a cabin, a monument, or a natural feature—will serve as a narrative anchor, intertwining Kyle’s personal history with the case at hand. The landmark’s significance could relate to his late son or his ex-wife Jill Bodwin, adding emotional depth to the procedural elements of the story. This personal connection promises to elevate the stakes, as Kyle grapples with memories and unresolved trauma while navigating a dangerous new case.

Cast and Characters: Who’s Returning?

Eric Bana is confirmed to reprise his role as Kyle Turner, the grizzled ISB agent whose raw performance anchored Season 1. His portrayal of a man haunted by loss yet driven by duty earned widespread praise, contributing to the show’s 80% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the rest of the Season 1 cast, including Sam Neill as Chief Paul Souter, Rosemarie DeWitt as Jill Bodwin, and Lily Santiago as Naya Vasquez, faces uncertain returns due to the shift in setting and the anthology-style approach teased by the showrunners. Since Paul Souter and Shane Maguire (Wilson Bethel) died in Season 1, their return seems unlikely unless incorporated through flashbacks or Kyle’s visions, similar to how he saw his deceased son.

Lily Santiago’s Naya Vasquez, the rookie ranger who proved her mettle in Season 1, has been a fan favorite, with Santiago herself expressing enthusiasm for more murder-solving in a potential Season 2. Mark L. Smith hinted at the possibility of bringing back beloved characters, stating, “We loved our cast and the characters they brought to life. In an ideal world, we would be able to pull something off.” Naya’s investigative skills and her dynamic with Kyle could make her a plausible returnee, especially if the story justifies her transfer to the new park. Rosemarie DeWitt’s Jill, Kyle’s ex-wife, could also reappear, particularly if the family landmark ties back to their shared history, though her role in arranging their son’s killer’s murder may complicate her arc.

New characters are expected to populate the new park, with Mark L. Smith promising “interesting” figures who will “help [Kyle] in ways both good and bad.” Fans speculate that celebrity guest stars could join the ensemble, aligning with Netflix’s trend of boosting anthology-style seasons with fresh faces. The new cast will likely reflect the park’s unique community, from local rangers to park visitors or residents with their own secrets, ensuring a dynamic interplay with Kyle’s investigation.

Production and Release Timeline

Netflix announced Untamed’s renewal on July 29, 2025, less than two weeks after its debut, driven by its massive viewership—24.6 million views in its first week and 26.1 million in its second, securing the top spot on Netflix’s English-language TV list. The rapid renewal reflects the show’s popularity and Netflix’s confidence in its potential. Season 1 was filmed from June to September 2024 and premiered in July 2025, a roughly one-year cycle. If Season 2 follows a similar timeline, with production reportedly underway, the confirmed release date of October 3, 2025, suggests an accelerated schedule, possibly due to pre-existing scripts or streamlined production.

The choice of October for the premiere aligns with the show’s moody, suspenseful tone, perfect for fall viewing. Unlike Season 1, which was filmed in British Columbia despite its Yosemite setting, Season 2’s location remains undisclosed, though the new park’s distinct identity will be a “main character,” according to Elle Smith. This approach will emphasize the park’s geography and culture, shaping both the case and Kyle’s emotional journey.

Themes and Expectations

Untamed Season 2 will continue its character-driven approach, blending crime thriller elements with psychological depth. The family landmark introduces a personal angle, potentially exploring themes of memory, legacy, and reconciliation. Kyle’s discomfort in the new park, as described by Mark L. Smith, suggests a narrative that will test his resilience and adaptability, contrasting his confident leadership in Yosemite. The anthology-style shift to a new park and case draws comparisons to True Detective, with fans and critics noting the potential for each season to offer a fresh story while retaining Kyle as the emotional core.

The new mystery could involve environmental crimes, wildlife trafficking, or a park conspiracy, as speculated by fans on forums like Reddit. Whatever the case, the showrunners aim to maintain the wilderness as a living, unpredictable force, amplifying the human drama. The landmark’s role will likely ground Kyle’s investigation in his past, making Season 2 a journey of both external and internal discovery.

Why It Matters

Untamed’s success lies in its ability to merge a visceral crime drama with the awe-inspiring yet dangerous settings of America’s national parks. Season 2’s October 3, 2025, release promises to build on this formula, delivering a darker, more personal case for Kyle Turner. With Eric Bana’s compelling performance, a new park’s unique backdrop, and the emotional weight of a family landmark, Untamed Season 2 is poised to captivate audiences once again. As fans eagerly await the premiere, the question remains: what secrets will Kyle uncover in the heart of this new wilderness?