Netflix is moving forward with the romantic drama Ransom Canyon starring Minka Kelly and Josh Duhamel, which is described as a “romance-fueled family drama and contemporary western saga that charts the intersecting lives of three ranching families, all set against the rugged expanse of Texas Hill Country.”
Kelly (Friday Night Lights) plays Quinn, who has often found herself in the shadow of others. But after some time in New York to pursue her career as a concert pianist, she’s returned to Ransom Canyon to carve out a new path for herself.
Duhamel (Transformers), meanwhile, plays Staten Kirkland. He’s the owner and lone occupant of the sprawling Double K Ranch. Often steadfast and stoic, Duhamel’s character is described as leading the charge as far as resisting outside forces that threaten the life he loves.
Consisting of ten hour-long episodes, Ransom Canyon is created, written, and executive produced by April Blair. Previously, Blair has worked on Wednesday and The CW drama All American. Amanda Marsalis (Ozark, Umbrella Academy) is set to direct the first two episodes.
Ransom Canyon continues a trend
“It’s a multi-generational family show set on a ranch, and we say it’s Virgin River meets Yellowstone,” Jinny Howe, Netflix’s Head of Drama, Development, said of Ransom Canyon in an August 2022 interview with Deadline. This points to the streamer’s strategy, as romantic dramas like Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias have been a big success on the platform.
Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias have both received early renewals and have appeared on Nielsen’s Top 10 streaming charts.