Naman Shrestha
Netflix’s ‘Untamed’ is the collaborative creation of Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith that revolves around an Investigative Services Branch agent of the National Parks Service named Kyle Turner, who is in charge of investigating a mysterious and brutal murder at Yosemite National Park. As Kyle searches for the truth and hunts for the perpetrator responsible for the murder, he is faced with not just the dark secrets in the park but also his own past. To accompany him on his quest for the truth is a rookie park ranger named Naya Vasquez, who finds the wildlife of Yosemite unfamiliar. In the murder mystery thriller series, the vast wilderness of the Yosemite National Park also plays a critical role in the narrative, serving as an additional character in itself.
Untamed Filming Locations
‘Untamed’ is reportedly filmed in its entirety in British Columbia, primarily in Greater Vancouver and Squamish. Principal photography for the inaugural iteration of the suspenseful series took place between June 2024 and late September of the same year. Sam Neill, who portrays Paul Souter, reminisced on the days he spent on set as the show premiere approached, stating, “Always fun to be found . With my fellow actors and friends . Lovely cast working on a great script . Plus there are others friends dropping by , on tour . Like Tim Minchin . Always something up . Now – i am NOT endorsing that weed shop , anymore than i endorse doggy raincoats. Just all some , a little , of life we witnessed during that time.”
Greater Vancouver, British Columbia
While primarily set in Yosemite National Park in California, the shooting of ‘Untamed’ took place extensively in the Greater Vancouver, AKA Metro Vancouver, area of British Columbia. North Shore Studios, at 555 Brooksbank Avenue in the City of North Vancouver, was utilized as a primary site for filming. Earlier known as Lions Gate Studios, the fully equipped facility is one of the prominent ones in the country. Overlooking the Ironworker’s Memorial Bridge, it boasts over eight soundstages over 120,000 sq ft, proficient technicians, over 80,000 sq ft of purpose-built offices with well-designed craft service furniture, a zero waste program, and infrastructure that supports the creation of a wide array of movies and shows. Therefore, it makes sense that the team of the Eric Bana starrer chose the complex as a filming site.
A few scenes were also taped at Murdo Frazer Park, a picturesque family-friendly park located at 3092 Paisley Road in the city. Furthermore, the filming unit captured several shots at Mount Seymour in the eponymous Provincial Park in the District of North Vancouver. Nestled in the laps of the Fraser River and the Golden Ears in the northeastern part of the metropolitan area, Maple Ridge is also one of the filming locations of ‘Untamed.’ The team likely traversed through multiple locales in the gorgeous city to paint the visual canvas of the murder mystery show.
About 30 minutes west of Maple Ridge, a chunk of the shooting was carried out in and around Port Moody. For a few days in August 2024, the team set up camp specifically at Henry Street, Hope Street, and William Street. The locality was reportedly transformed into a bustling set, packed with over 12 semi-trailers, a boom lift, catering units, and the energy of the talented members of the cast and crew, ranging from actors to directors, camera operators, production assistants, set decorators, and designers. A number of scenes showcasing the investigation in Yosemite National Park were actually lensed at Chip Kerr Park at 2995 Hope Street. In addition, an old rental property at 3002 Henry Street was temporarily renamed to double up as Casa Bueno in California, embellished with graffiti painted by the art department at the entrance.
Squamish, British Columbia
For the purpose of filming, the production team of ‘Untamed’ also settled upon Squamish, a quaint district municipality between Vancouver and Whistler. Located about two kilometres south of the community at 36800 Highway 99, the renowned Sea-to-Sky Gondola served as one of the shooting sites for the show. Around 885m above sea level, the aerial tramway offers breathtaking vistas of the Howe Sound, lush green coastal forests, and the majestic mountains. Besides Squamish, the unit seemingly ventured 60 km north to lens a few scenes in Whistler.
