Inside Untamed: Peeling Back the Layers of Netflix’s Gritty Wilderness Thriller Starring Eric Bana
Netflix’s Untamed isn’t just another mystery thriller—it’s a character-driven, emotionally layered drama that dives deep into grief, redemption, and human connection, all set against the raw beauty of a national park. Eric Bana (who plays Kyle and also serves as an executive producer), Lily Santiago (Naya), Wilson Bethel (Shane), and showrunner Elle Smith shared insights into the creative process behind this gripping series.
Eric Bana on Playing a Gruff Yet Layered Lead
Eric Bana’s Kyle is a man who wears his emotional armor like a second skin. "He’s just a dick," Bana says with a laugh, acknowledging the character’s blunt nature. But Kyle isn’t one-note—his gruffness hides layers of loss and personal turmoil. Bana explained that the journey of playing Kyle was about “leaning into the reality” of a man who shifts depending on whom he’s interacting with.
His evolving relationship with Lily Santiago’s Naya serves as one of the show’s emotional anchors. What begins as open hostility slowly morphs into something more complex, though Bana interestingly notes that this dynamic flips over time, with Naya eventually becoming the emotional support for Kyle.
Showrunner Elle Smith on Balancing Character and Mystery
For showrunner Elle Smith, Untamed began as a character story wrapped inside a mystery. The writing process involved a careful balancing act of slowly peeling back layers of both the crime at the center of the series and the characters’ personal histories. “Each episode you’re learning something new,” she explains, not just about the crime, but also about the “dark underbelly” of the park and the interconnected lives of those within it.
Smith also emphasized the importance of honoring the history of the land, particularly the Miwok people, whose presence and traditions are embedded in the architecture, culture, and storyline of the park itself.
Lily Santiago’s Journey from City to Wilderness
Lily Santiago’s Naya enters the series escaping her past life in LA and finds herself literally and figuratively lost in the wild. Santiago revealed that her personal experience mirrored her character’s arc—new to horseback riding and wilderness settings, she had only a couple of lessons before filming began. “It was easy to bring myself into the character,” she shared. “There were moments where I didn’t have to act, I was genuinely in awe of the setting.”
Her emotional journey as Naya includes moments of strength and vulnerability—especially in later episodes that reveal her character’s history of domestic abuse. Santiago described these scenes as “wonderful to play” because they gave her the opportunity to explore both the strength and fragility of a woman navigating trauma while trying to reclaim her power.
Wilson Bethel’s Shane: A Man of Mystery and Morality
Wilson Bethel plays Shane, a former sniper turned ranger with a moral compass all his own. “He’s a dangerous man,” Bethel states. Shane’s personal code, forged through military experience and solitude, puts him on a collision course with Kyle. These “two lions circling each other in a small cage,” as Bethel puts it, are bound by a shared intensity but differ greatly in their emotional landscapes. While Kyle is tortured and conflicted, Shane is resolute—even ruthless.
Bethel credits the strength of the writing for giving him enough space to fully inhabit Shane while leaving room to interpret the nuances. “You’re not told exactly who these characters are, which is the best kind of writing for an actor.”
Moments of Connection and Transformation
One key turning point in the series is a scene where Nia becomes trapped, and Kyle is the one who comes to her rescue. It marks a shift from cold indifference to emotional investment. Filmed in a physically demanding custom-built set, both actors recall it as a defining moment in their on-screen partnership.
“It was terrifying,” Santiago said. “But that vulnerability between the characters—that brush with death—makes them start to see each other as partners.”
Untamed is more than a mystery; it’s an exploration of fractured people searching for meaning, purpose, and redemption in one of the most unforgiving terrains—both physically and emotionally. With a cast that delivers raw, grounded performances and a story that’s rich with subtext and suspense, the series is a standout for those who crave more than just whodunnit twists. Whether you’re watching for the mystery, the character arcs, or the breathtaking scenery, Untamed proves that sometimes the wildest terrain is the human heart.
Watch the full conversation below:
Q&A on the Netflix series Untamed with actor & executive producer Eric Bana, actors Lily Santiago and Wilson Bethel, and showrunner & executive producer Elle Smith. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company.