Creator and showrunner April Blair has addressed the overlap in casting between her Netflix series 'Ransom Canyon' and Taylor Sheridan's popular 'Yellowstone' universe, which includes the spin-offs 'Marshals' and 'Dutton Ranch'. Several actors from 'Ransom Canyon' have appeared in Sheridan's shows, leading to comparisons and discussions about the intertwined worlds.
Blair noted that actors such as Tatanka Means, Brett Cullen, and Sterlin English have worked on both series. Means, who plays Jake Longbow on 'Ransom Canyon,' was cast as Miles Kittle, one of the five core U.S. Marshals in the 'Marshals' spin-off. This dual role significantly impacted his availability for 'Ransom Canyon's' second season.
"I’m really happy for Tatanka. He’s great. I love him on our show. It was sad, because we couldn’t get him as much during Season 2. He was very, very busy," Blair told Decider. She expressed hope that fans will see more of Means on 'Ransom Canyon' in the future.
Cullen, who portrays Sam Kirkland on 'Ransom Canyon,' appeared as Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Harry Gifford on 'Marshals.' English, known as Sterlin on 'Ransom Canyon,' played Austin on 'Dutton Ranch.'
While acknowledging the similarities, Blair emphasized that 'Ransom Canyon' offers a distinct narrative. She credits Sheridan's work with repopularizing the neo-Western genre, which she believes paved the way for her show's development. "All of Taylor’s work is super inspirational to everyone," Blair said. "And without [Yellowstone], I don’t know that anyone would have bought these books or had me write them. So I definitely credit it."
However, she highlighted the core differences in storytelling, stating, "I think we definitely are something very different once you get under the hood of it. I don’t like killing. Everything is very grounded in romance and the different layers of love and longing and all of that."
'Ransom Canyon,' based on a novel by Jodi Thomas published in 2015, is available for streaming on Netflix, with its first two seasons currently accessible.