Untamed star Eric Bana spoke with ComingSoon about his new Netflix murder mystery show. Bana discussed what attracted him to the script, getting to work with Jurassic Park star Sam Neill, and more. The series debuts on Netflix on Thursday, July 17.
“A character-driven mystery-thriller that follows Kyle Turner (played by Eric Bana), a special agent for the National Parks Service who works to enforce human law in nature’s vast wilderness. The investigation of a brutal death sends Turner on a collision course with the dark secrets within the park, and in his own past,” says the official synopsis.
Tyler Treese: Eric, Untamed really gets its hooks in you because of the murder mystery, but as it goes on, you realize it’s really this deep character study. Many shows have one or the other, but you really get it all here, as we really get into the depths of Kyle Turner. What did you like most about getting to explore his past and also seeing all the park’s dark history there?
Eric Bana: I loved all of it. When I read it, I just felt like this was such a unique mix of murder mystery with incredible characters, but set in the most epic location. I just felt like I haven’t seen this before. You know, I’m familiar with the genre, I’m familiar with this or that, but I hadn’t seen that kind of marriage of all those elements together.
It was a big draw card for myself and Mark, our head writer. So that was really exciting. And then playing with the level of reveal and the level of drama that we play with over the six episodes was a great challenge, but a lot of fun.
You’re a very naturally charismatic actor, but Kyle’s very abrasive and short with people. His actions aren’t always super likable. He’s very human, and you can really feel his pain throughout. How was it adding that edge to your performance, but making sure that people still found him likable and wanted to go on that journey with him?
It’s an interesting question. I remember talking to Mark and the director of the first couple of episodes, just having the confidence to lean into the kind of gruffness and rudeness that Kyle has. Particularly in the beginning with Lily Santiago’s character, who’s a new ranger coming into the park and who’s gonna help him with this investigation.
But just kind of leaning into it and going, “Well, this helps with the character arc and helps with the interplay between these actors and these characters.” But you’re right. You are thinking, “Oh, is this too much? Like, is he too rude here?” But then we learn things about him, and I think it makes it kind of more interesting as a result
A big draw for people will be getting to see you and Sam Neill together on screen, and you both have such a presence with each other. So it’s a real joy getting to see you guys together. Was that chemistry with him just there from the start? How was it seeing him as a scene partner?
It was a dream come true. I mean, I’ve always been a huge fan of Sam, and when we went to him for this part, I was so thrilled when he was able to come on board. He’s charismatic. He’s funny. He has this incredible quality that all the great actors do that I’ve worked with, which is, there’s this kind of effortless quality on screen and to work with. Just very collaborative.
So it was a dream, you know, and then the relationship between Kyle and Soder and what that is and where it goes and what it’s been in the past… He’s kind of the only person that Kyle really respects in the whole show, in the park, in terms of their relationships. So it’s really interesting to play.
You mentioned Mark L. Smith. He’s been on such a roll lately. I loved The Marsh King’s Daughter that he did with Elle Smith. But Twisters, The Boys in the Boat, American Primeval… He’s done so many interesting projects. What stood out about having those two showrunners who were really firing on all cylinders and so involved in just every facet of the show?
Eric Bana: It was awesome. I mean, they’re just so supportive and so collaborative and so nice, like just so incredible to work with. We always felt like we were rowing in the same direction. We always felt like we’re all making the same show that we wanted to make and the same kind of vision in terms of the epicness and the cinematic scale of it.
So it was just nothing but a joy. And just having Mark and Lauren there the whole time as a sounding board and just to be able to discuss things and play with things and change things or whatever was just was really fantastic. They’re so good to work with.
Thanks to Eric Bana for taking the time to talk about Untamed.
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