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New faces arrive in Ransom Canyon season 2
Netflix has added two recognizable genre performers to the cast of Ransom Canyon for season two: Ben Robson, best known for his co-lead turn on TNT's Animal Kingdom, and rising actor Heidi Engerman, who appeared in Candyman and several network dramas. Both are signed as recurring guest stars and are expected to appear across multiple episodes as production continues in New Mexico.
Set in the rugged, scenic Texas Hill Country, Ransom Canyon blends family saga, romantic drama and Western aesthetics. The series — an adaptation of Jodi Thomas’ novels — follows three ranching dynasties in a battle over land and legacy as outside pressures threaten the traditions that bind them. Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly lead the ensemble, supported by Lizzy Greene, Garrett Wareing, Jack Schumacher, Marianly Tejada and Casey W. Johnson. Showrunner April Blair returns, with executive producers including Dan Angel, Josh Duhamel, Minka Kelly and Bradley Gardner.
What Robson and Engerman bring to the series
Robson arrives with a résumé of tough, layered roles: Animal Kingdom showcased his intensity, Vikings highlighted his physicality, and he recently appeared in the John Wick universe series The Continental. His casting signals a likely robust, possibly antagonistic presence that fits the show's high-stakes ranch conflicts.
Engerman, meanwhile, has been building momentum across film and television. In addition to her role in Candyman, she has credits on Chicago Fire, 9-1-1: Lone Star and The Bold and the Beautiful, and is in post-production on the feature …And Out Comes the Wolf alongside Giancarlo Esposito. Her involvement suggests a character capable of emotional nuance and dramatic turns.
Filming location and production notes
Although the story takes place in Texas Hill Country, production is based at Netflix Studios Albuquerque, New Mexico, the same hub used for the first season. New Mexico’s production incentives, varied landscapes and established studio infrastructure have made it a go-to stand-in for Western and rural settings. Season two is currently filming, and the producers have confirmed both Robson and Engerman will recur across several episodes.
How Ransom Canyon fits into Netflix's strategy
Ransom Canyon is part of what industry observers call Netflix’s "comfort entertainment" slate — serialized dramas with strong character hooks and reliably engaged audiences. The streamer has invested in similar titles such as Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias and My Life with the Walter Boys: shows that blend romance, community drama and accessible storytelling to attract steady viewership. For Netflix, series like Ransom Canyon provide durable engagement rather than viral tentpole moments.
Comparatively, Ransom Canyon leans more on Western and ranching traditions than many of its comfort-drama peers. That combination of family feud and pastoral setting places it alongside recent rural-dramas that merge soap-opera plotting with cinematic production values.
"Ransom Canyon continues a smart, audience-first approach to serialized drama," says cinema historian Marko Jensen. "By marrying star casting with pastoral conflict and serialized romance, the show delivers escapism with emotional stakes — a format that performs well for streaming platforms seeking regular viewers."
Behind the scenes and fan reaction
Casting announcements for season two have generated steady social media interest, particularly from fans of Animal Kingdom and genre followers who track actors moving between prestige cable and streaming projects. Production insiders note that recurring guest roles like these often provide welcome sparks in ensemble dramas — new loyalties, rivalries and plotting that keep serialized shows dynamic.
Robson is represented by Rogue Management & Production, Gersh and Entertainment 360. Engerman is repped by 42, Stewart Talent and Sloane Offer.
As filming progresses, fans will be watching for character details and a release window; Netflix has not yet announced a premiere date for season two. For viewers who enjoy romantic Westerns and family sagas, the addition of Robson and Engerman expands the pool of performers likely to raise the dramatic temperature of the series.
A quietly staged, character-driven drama, Ransom Canyon is shaping up to deepen the world established in season one while leaning into the genre strengths that attracted its audience — family loyalty, land-based stakes and slow-burning romance. Expect a mix of old rivalries and new faces when season two arrives.
Source: deadline
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