New Netflix Western is Already a Must-see for Yellowstone & Virgin River Fans
Now it's time for Netflix to say 'yeehaw.' But, like, romantically.
Summary
- Riding the wave of Yellowstone 's popularity, Netflix is preparing its own take on the Western genre.
- The new series, based on Jodi Thomas' novel Ransom Canyon, will be a mix of Yellowstone and Netflix's other hit, Virgin River.
- While details are scarce, we do know some of the cast and crew, and filming is set to begin as early as January 2024.
Westerns are undoubtedly one of the mainstays of the American film and television industry. Every year, an incredible number of highly entertaining adventure stories and crime dramas set in the lawless lands of the Old West are released, as well as revisionist narratives that turn Western tropes on their head. Still, no one seems to be as successful in the genre as Taylor Sheridan and his Yellowstone franchise: even without Kevin Costner, each of the period iterations about the Dutton family evokes a genuine love of personal freedom and scenic vastness unencumbered by civilization.
What's the New Netflix Show About?
The upcoming Western is called Ransom Canyon. After the colossal success of Yellowstone at rival Paramount, the streaming service will once again take on an adaptation of the novel, similar to its own acclaimed hit Virgin River, which is an annual top seller on the platform.
The series will be based on Jodi Thomas' book of the same name and will tell a contemporary family Western story with romantic elements. The plot will follow the intertwining destinies of three families whose ranches are located in the vast expanses of the Texas Hill Country. At this time, two actors have been confirmed to star in the series: Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly. The former will play a stoic rancher who, like Yellowstone's John Dutton, is willing to risk everything to protect his ranch and the traditional way of life passed down through generations. The latter will play a young woman who, after an unsuccessful attempt to become a pianist in New York City, returns to the town of Ransom Canyon.
Yellowstone Meets Virgin River
Series writer Jinny Howe, who worked on Virgin River, shared a rather remarkable description of the series.
'It's a contemporary Western romance show, just looking for more in this comfort romance space. It's a multi-generational family show set on a ranch, and we say it's Virgin River meets Yellowstone,' Howe told Deadline. 'We think that it's going to deliver on all the romance and again it will be a really beautiful vista and setting, very escapist. It is in development in early stages, but we're very excited about it; it feels very promising.'
Looks like we're in for a very successful blend of Yellowstone aesthetics and Virgin River coziness.
Series Promises to Be Another Netflix Hit
Given the success of Yellowstone and Virgin River, Netflix could very well deliver a new pop culture phenomenon that attracts millions of viewers. First, the story doesn't require an incredibly large budget, allowing the dynamics between the characters to shine through.
Second, there are some pretty recognizable faces working on the show. For example, Ransom Canyon's creator, executive producer and co-screenwriter is April Blair, who has worked on scripts for All American and Wednesday. Amanda Marsalis, of Ozark and The Umbrella Academy fame, will direct the first two episodes of the ten-episode series.
Filming is set to begin as early as January 2024, which means the series could very well be released by the end of this year. So sharpen your spurs, fellow cowboys!
Source: Deadline.