A day into its release, Netflix‘s new drama series Ransom Canyon has shot to No. 1 on the streamer’s Daily Top 10 ratings in the U.S. The contemporary Western romance, billed as Virgin River meets Yellowstone, stars Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly as childhood friends-turned-star-crossed lovers.
First revealed by Deadline in 2022 as being in fast-track development at Netflix, the adaptation of Jodi Thomas’ books was formally greenlighted in December 2023 after locking in both Duhamel and Kelly as the success of series in the genre relies heavily on the casting of the lead couple.
Both Duhamel and Kelly were top choices. Netflix went after Transformers star Duhamel and, after lengthy negotiations, he was cast first.
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Friday Night Lights alumna Kelly was the only actress invited to a chemistry read with Duhamel and was offered the female lead, I
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