Netflix’s gripping thriller Untamed has cemented its place as a standout in the crime drama genre, captivating audiences with its blend of mystery, emotional depth, and the breathtaking backdrop of America’s national parks. Following its explosive debut on July 17, 2025, which garnered 24.6 million views in its first week and a spot in Netflix’s global Top 10, the series has been officially renewed for a second season. Fans can mark their calendars: Untamed Season 2 is set to premiere on October 3, 2025, though some sources suggest a later date of July 16, 2026. The new season promises to thrust National Park Service Investigative Services Branch (ISB) agent Kyle Turner, played by Eric Bana, into a fresh mystery, this time centered on the disappearance of his ex-wife, Jill Bodwin, and a chilling secret revealed in her last voicemail. As Turner returns to the mountains, Untamed Season 2 is poised to deliver another heart-pounding chapter, exploring new landscapes, complex characters, and the haunting personal stakes that define the series.

A Triumphant Return After a Stellar Debut

Untamed Season 1, set in the majestic Yosemite National Park, introduced viewers to Kyle Turner, a seasoned ISB agent grappling with personal demons while investigating the brutal murder of a Jane Doe who fell from El Capitan, a 3,000-foot rock formation. The case, revealed to be that of Lucy Cook, a young woman missing for a decade, intertwined with Turner’s grief over his son Caleb’s murder five years earlier, which left him haunted by hallucinations. The season’s six episodes, crafted by co-creators Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, blended a moody narrative with stunning visuals, earning an 80% critics’ score and a 71% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised its “smart and compelling drama” and “real sense of place,” with Slate’s Rebecca Onion noting that “a Yosemite story hits just right.”

The show’s success prompted Netflix to renew it for a second season on July 29, 2025, just weeks after its debut, despite its initial billing as a limited series. Eric Bana expressed his excitement in a statement to Netflix’s Tudum: “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.” The renewal, announced by Variety and other outlets, reflects the show’s ability to resonate with audiences through its unique blend of crime-solving and emotional storytelling.

Release Date: Clearing Up the Confusion

The release date for Untamed Season 2 has been a point of contention among sources. Multiple reports, including News75Today, confirm a premiere date of October 3, 2025, aligning with Netflix’s rapid production timeline following the show’s strong debut. However, other sources, such as WhenNetflix.com, suggest a later release on July 16, 2026, citing a production schedule similar to Season 1, which filmed from June to September 2024 for a July 2025 release. This discrepancy likely stems from speculative reporting, as Netflix has not officially clarified the date beyond confirming the renewal. Given the show’s popularity and Netflix’s history of fast-tracking successful series, the October 3, 2025, date appears more plausible, especially as production is reportedly underway. Fans should stay tuned for an official announcement to resolve this ambiguity.

Season 2 will consist of six episodes, maintaining the tight narrative structure of its predecessor. The episodes are expected to drop simultaneously on Netflix, allowing viewers to binge the new mystery. While a teaser trailer has not yet been released, the creators have hinted that one will arrive closer to the premiere, promising glimpses of the new park and its challenges.

A New Park, A New Mystery

Season 1 ended with Kyle Turner leaving Yosemite after solving Lucy Cook’s murder, a case tied to a drug scheme in the park’s old tunnels. His departure, marked by symbolically handing his horse to rookie ranger Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago), signaled a release of emotional baggage tied to his son’s death and his broken marriage to Jill Bodwin (Rosemarie DeWitt). Season 2 will see Turner in a new national park, distinct from Yosemite’s granite cliffs and lush valleys. Co-creator Elle Smith emphasized the shift in setting: “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.”

While the specific park has not been confirmed, speculation points to locations like the Smoky Mountains or Glacier National Park, which offer contrasting landscapes and cultural contexts. Mark L. Smith noted, “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 ensures the mystery feels fresh, potentially involving environmental crimes, wildlife trafficking, or a missing persons case, as suggested by fan discussions on platforms like Reddit. The park itself will remain a “main character,” influencing Turner’s emotional state and the narrative’s tone, as Elle Smith described: “Whichever park we choose will be a character and it will kind of play a role in Turner’s emotional frame of mind.”

Jill’s Disappearance and the Horrifying Secret

The central mystery of Season 2 revolves around the disappearance of Jill Bodwin, Kyle’s ex-wife, whose emotional ties to him were a significant undercurrent in Season 1. News75Today reports that Jill’s absence and a “horrifying secret” revealed in her last voicemail will drive the narrative, placing Turner in a race against time. While specific details about the voicemail’s content are scarce, fan theories and narrative hints suggest it could involve a threat to Jill’s safety, a revelation about their shared past, or a connection to a broader conspiracy within the new park. The voicemail might hint at unresolved issues from Caleb’s murder, which continues to haunt Turner, or expose a secret Jill kept during their marriage, adding personal stakes to the investigation.

Jill, played by Rosemarie DeWitt, was a complex figure in Season 1, described as a source of both support and tension for Turner. Her disappearance could force Turner to confront lingering guilt and unresolved emotions, especially as he navigates an unfamiliar park. The creators have emphasized that Season 2 will place Turner “on his back foot,” making him less comfortable than he was in Yosemite, where he knew every trail and ranger. “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,” Mark Smith told Tudum. This shift suggests that Jill’s disappearance will challenge Turner both professionally and personally, pushing him into uncharted emotional and investigative territory.

Cast: Who’s Returning and Who’s New?

Eric Bana’s return as Kyle Turner is confirmed, with his raw, nuanced performance as the “tough but broken” agent remaining the heart of the series. However, the status of other Season 1 cast members is less certain due to the change in setting. Sam Neill (Paul Souter, chief ranger), Lily Santiago (Naya Vasquez), and Rosemarie DeWitt (Jill Bodwin) were integral to the first season, but only DeWitt is explicitly linked to the Season 2 plot through her character’s disappearance. Mark Smith teased the possibility of familiar faces returning: “We loved our cast and we loved the characters that they brought to life. In an ideal world, we would be able to pull something off.” This suggests potential cameos or flashbacks for characters like Naya or Paul, perhaps tying their stories to Jill’s case.

New characters are expected to populate the new park, including rangers, locals, and suspects who will “help [Turner] in ways both good and bad,” according to Mark Smith. These additions will mirror the dynamic ensemble of Season 1, which included Wilson Bethel as Shane Maguire (who died in the first season) and supporting players like Marilyn Norry (Glory) and Taylor Hickson (Summer). Fan speculation on X suggests new characters could include a rival ISB agent, a local activist, or a family member connected to Jill’s disappearance, adding layers to the mystery.

Critical Reception and Fan Expectations

Season 1’s success was driven by its atmospheric storytelling and strong performances, with critics like Robert Levin of Newsday calling it “a smart and compelling drama.” However, some fans felt the finale’s twists were rushed, a critique the creators may address in Season 2 by crafting a more cohesive mystery. The focus on Jill’s disappearance has sparked excitement on platforms like Reddit, where fans theorize about connections to Caleb’s murder or a new criminal network. The voicemail’s “horrifying secret” has fueled speculation about everything from a cover-up in the park to a personal betrayal, with viewers eager for a plot that balances action with emotional depth.

The series’ ability to make the park a character has been a standout feature, and fans expect Season 2 to deliver equally stunning visuals. The move to a new park has inspired travel fantasies, with Stylist noting that the “sweeping and inspiring” backdrops make viewers “daydream about packing everything up and going to work as a park ranger.” The creators’ commitment to authenticity, drawing on real-life ISB operations, will likely continue to ground the drama in a sense of realism.

Production and Creative Vision

Created by Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, Untamed is produced by John Wells Productions and Warner Bros. Television, with filming for Season 2 reportedly underway. The father-daughter creative duo has emphasized their collaborative process, with Elle noting the unique challenge of “making a TV show with your dad.” Their vision for Season 2 is to maintain the park-as-character theme while pushing Turner into new emotional and professional challenges. The series’ success has also drawn comparisons to other Netflix hits like Virgin River and The Lincoln Lawyer, which highlight unique Americana settings and complex characters.

The production timeline, based on Season 1’s schedule, suggests that filming could wrap by early 2026 if the October 2025 premiere holds. The creators’ focus on a distinct park identity ensures that the new setting will offer fresh visual and narrative opportunities, from dense forests to rugged peaks, each shaping the mystery’s tone. The promise of a “more impactful” case for Turner suggests a story that will delve deeper into his psyche, potentially exploring themes of redemption, loss, and resilience.

Broader Implications and Cultural Impact

Untamed Season 2 arrives at a time when crime dramas are thriving on streaming platforms, offering audiences escapist yet emotionally resonant stories. The focus on Jill’s disappearance and the horrifying secret in her voicemail taps into universal themes of loss and discovery, while the national park setting highlights environmental and cultural issues. The series’ portrayal of ISB agents, inspired by real-life operations, sheds light on the lesser-known work of protecting America’s natural treasures, potentially inspiring viewers to explore these spaces responsibly.

The show also reflects a growing trend of personalizing crime narratives, with Turner’s emotional baggage mirroring real-world struggles with grief and trauma. Jill’s disappearance adds a layer of intimacy to the thriller, making Season 2 not just about solving a case but about confronting personal history. This approach has resonated with audiences, as evidenced by the 26.4 million views reported by Stylist, and positions Untamed as a cultural touchstone for discussions about family, duty, and the wild.

Looking Ahead: A Race Against Time

As Untamed Season 2 prepares to launch, fans are bracing for a thrilling continuation of Kyle Turner’s journey. The confirmed premiere on October 3, 2025 (pending official clarification), promises a new park, new faces, and a deeply personal mystery centered on Jill Bodwin’s disappearance. The horrifying secret in her last voicemail—whether it’s a threat, a confession, or a clue to a larger conspiracy—will likely redefine Turner’s mission and test his resilience. With Eric Bana’s commanding performance and the creators’ knack for weaving landscape and emotion, Untamed Season 2 is set to be a pulse-pounding exploration of loss, redemption, and the untamed forces of nature and the human heart.

For viewers eager to revisit the story, Season 1 is streaming on Netflix, offering a chance to reconnect with Turner’s world before the new chapter unfolds. As the countdown to October begins, one thing is certain: Kyle Turner’s return to the mountains will be anything but predictable, and Jill’s missing voicemail holds secrets that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.