American Primeval creator has made Untamed - Netflix's answer to True Detective that could last for years
The creator of hit American Primeval have just made Netflix's version of True Detective and it could last for years, despite its limited series status.
All six episodes of Untamed are now available to watch on the major streamer as of today (July 17). It is easily a must binge watch show for this weekend for any fans of the two previously mentioned shows.
According to the brief synopsis shared by Netflix, the crime thriller is based amidst the vast expanse of Yosemite National Park. A woman's suspicious death draws a federal agent into lawless terrain, where nature obeys no rules but its own.
Untamed was created and written by father daughter team, Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith. Smith senior previously wrote the screenplays for The Revenant, for which Leonardo DiCaprio finally picked up an Oscar, and Twisters. He also created the historical drama American Primeval, which was a hit for Netflix earlier in the year.
Together, the duo look to have repeated and offered up the closest thing to True Detective Netflix has been able to provide among all its binge worthy crime dramas and declared themselves as two of the steamer's must follow creatives. If anything they write next is as addictive as Untamed, I'll be there day one.
True Detective is known for its A-list cast list and Untamed certainly competes in that area itself. It is lead by Australian actor Eric Bana, who has starred in Troy, The Time Traveller's Wife and played the Hulk before the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
He is supported by Jurassic Park star Sam Neill, Wilson Bethel who also plays Bullseye in the Daredevil television series along with Rosemarie DeWitt and Lily Santiago. Together, along with a central mystery that follows many twists and turns, the series throws up a story even more gripping than any other murder mystery.
In fact, I found myself gripped harder than any of True Detective's four seasons, which often fell by the wayside. There's no such danger here, with the Netflix series determined to clear everything up.
Untamed, also like the HBO show, makes understated use of the supernatural and local folklore. It would spoil an early plot point to explain in detail how this is but while True Detective might thrust the ghost stories in the viewers' faces, Untamed keeps them rightfully in the shadows to reflect on its characters and spectacular setting.
A clear benefit of setting a show in one of the US' celebrated National Parks is that some of the shots used can be as dramatic or intimate as desired. While Mark Smith's previous Netflix success, American Primeval, took advantage of its setting in its time period, Untamed does similar with its locality.
Untamed only ever slows down to allow viewers to appreciate the glimpse of some of the best scenes nature allows. A look behind the scenes of some sequences would be fascinating, and hopefully wouldn't break my heart in revealing any green screen magic.
Despite the fact that this is being billed as a limited series for Netflix, Untamed could easily go on for years. Its premise of federal agents investigating serious crimes taking place within a national park they are based is almost too good not to be turned into an anthology. It certainly wouldn't be the strangest series Netflix could renew.
The United States has 63 National Parks and Yosemite, which serves as the locale for Untamed, is only the 19th largest. Considering that, it feels like the potential for follow ups, whether they be tied directly or be complete standalone stories in other Parks is endless.
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Daily Mirror
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- Daily Mirror
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The Independent
2 hours ago
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What to Stream: Madonna, 'Happy Gilmore 2,' Judge Judy and Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd team up
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Scottish Sun
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Sex and The City hunk Gilles Marini claims ‘it's time' for And Just Like That ‘to go' as fans slam ‘insufferable' show
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It goes up, and then it goes down [in popularity]. We have to know and understand when it's time to go." He feels viewers would still love to see more of the iconic characters, but a different spin-off may work instead of continuing to focus on Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker. "Maybe taking the side of one of the characters and having this history behind of Sex and The City," he said. "But making something so clearly different.. somebody else come in with something new, you know? Really fresh, like the storyline has to be completely shattered. "And something that is meaningful nowadays. Everybody loved this show because everybody could relate. Let's have a show where really everyone can relate a little bit [more]." 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Despite its critics, Marini says he has loved seeing the main characters back on screen and would not turn down the opportunity to appear in the future. He said, "If I got the call… I'd run to it. Absolutely. I think one of the most amazing things that I had the chance to do in my life was Sex And The City." Asked about Kim's decision not to reprise her role, he added, "To each their own. Sometimes people want to start something, and then when they're done, they're done with it. "At the end of it, look at the career she has, I mean, everything she's done. She doesn't need [anything]. It's her decision, of course." He told The U.S. Sun had never seen the show before he was cast and had no idea at the time of the impact it had. Marini recalled, "Michael Patrick King, the director of the film, he said, 'Listen, when the movie comes out, your life will never be the same and your phone will never stop ringing'. And I'm like, why? Why is he saying that? And now I know why he said that. I had never watched the show before, and I think that was key in me getting the part." Actor Gilles Marini "At the end of the day he [Marini's character] was not just a guy. What was very interesting is when I developed that character in my mind, it was important for me for [women] to understand that this man is just not like .. he's gonna have sex with you. "No matter what, the moment spent with him will be unforgettable. "He loves what he does. He loves to be with women. And he's the near image in a way of Kim Cattrall's character a couple of years prior. "I needed to play him so that you're not ever threatened. [He's] just a guy that loves to make love. "I've never watched it back, but everybody sends me the scenes every day because ... guys and girls, whatever flavor, send me it, 'Oh look, it's in Korean, it's in Russian, it's in Spanish'. "Every time I hear myself in a different language, I can't resist. I have to post it. "I had never watched the show before, and I think that was key in me getting the part. "But it's an educational show for men. If you're a man and you watch Sex and The City, you understand a lot more the psyche of women. And you get along with them a lot better." Years on from the scene that set pulses racing, Marini has managed to keep his physique in top-tip shape, but said taking care of his health is important, it's not about being a pin-up. "I keep myself in shape because I like to be more of an inspiration than someone that's given up on [themselves]," he said. "I'm about to be 50 years old." Marini is still getting plenty of roles and is also working on a movie, telling The U.S. Sun he's happy to be back in action after the pandemic saw productions in Hollywood grind to a halt. "I'm very excited about the kind of reverse of Hollywood. It has to happen, he said. "Because it's been like really insane for a lot of people, including myself, since the pandemic. "Hollywood should be seen as the leader of everything [in movies]. The last time I shot something here was at Warner Bros. "And you could tell that it was not immensely busy. And that was not even a year ago. I want to work. I must export myself elsewhere. "I just shot a film with a beautiful Kym Johnson, one of the all-time leaders of everything in Dancing With the Stars, that I adore. "She's amazing. And she wanted to do a beautiful film, with dancing and Christmas and love. Christmas in a ballroom. We cannot wait. "It's was very sweet. It was cool. It was difficult for me because I went back to kind of dancing. [Bu] it went more than well. She's just phenomenal. I can't wait to see her again." 5 Gilles Marini attends the 25th Annual Operation Smile Fiesta in Los Angeles Credit: Getty
