National parks are where we go to escape, find peace, and run into people making horrible decisions, apparently. At least, that’s the hook behind USA Network’s new original crime drama, which takes the wide-open beauty of protected land and turns it into the backdrop for murder, mystery and mayhem. Basically, if you need to solve crimes, why not do it in a stunning location?
Anna Pigeon is set to premiere on Friday, August 7, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on USA Network. The network has also released a new official trailer and key art for the ten-episode drama, which is based on the New York Times bestselling novels by Nevada Barr. The series stars Tracy Spiridakos (Chicago P.D., Revolution) as Anna Pigeon, a former city slicker who becomes a park ranger after a devastating loss changes the course of her life forever.
For Spiridakos, Anna Pigeon gives her another strong TV lead after her long run as Hailey Upton on Chicago P.D. Here, she’s trading city policing for wilderness crime-solving, but the emotional core still seems to be a woman trying to keep moving while carrying the weight of what happened before. Basically, fewer squad rooms, more trees, the odd animal here or there.
The series follows Anna as she tries to escape her demons while solving crimes that take place on national park grounds. Naturally, because this is television, the outdoors is not just a place for fresh air and reflective hikes. It’s a place where secrets, bodies, and unresolved trauma can all be hiding just off the trail. Anna’s work pulls her into dangerous cases where the wilderness can be just as unforgiving as the people she’s investigating.
The cast includes Ronnie Rowe (Star Trek: Discovery, The Man from Toronto) as Frederick Stanton, an FBI agent and charismatic wanderer who chases crimes through national parks and keeps his cool except when it comes to Anna, Paulina Alexis (Reservation Dogs, Ghostbusters: Afterlife) as Zoey Bear Child, a young ranger coming into her own who looks to Anna as a mentor, Melanie Scrofano (Wynonna Earp, Ready or Not) as Bethany Lopez, the wife of park ranger Manny Lopez, and Manuel Rodriguez-Saenz (Heartland, Fortunate Son) as Manny Lopez. The series also stars Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica, Lucifer), Kim Coates (Sons of Anarchy, Bad Blood), Cooper Levy, Jordan Sledz (Billy the Kid, Under the Banner of Heaven), Ryan Northcott (Mystery, Alaska, The Beach Boys: An American Family), Crystle Lightning (Trickster, Three Pines), and Nikki Hallow (High School, Tribal).
Why Is ‘Anna Pigeon’ Such a Strong Fit for USA Network?
Nevada Barr’s novels give the series plenty of material to work with, so there’s no shortage of story left to explore. Anna Pigeon also stands apart from the usual TV detective script. She’s a park ranger, not a cop, which gives the procedural format a different perspective and tone. The national park settings also add something visually distinct — these are massive, striking landscapes that naturally keep the series feeling fresh and immersive.
What makes the concept especially appealing is how well it fits into two styles of television that audiences already respond to: character-driven dramas rooted in rugged environments, and stories where the setting matters just as much as the people in it. In that sense, it does share some DNA with Yellowstone. At its core, this is a story about land, danger, and people shaped by the places they live and work in. Just hopefully without a conveniently lawless “zone of death” filled with dead cowboys.
There’s also an obvious comparison to the short-lived Joe Pickett. Like that series, Anna Pigeon centers on a law enforcement figure whose work is tied more to the wilderness than to a city precinct. Anna isn’t chasing suspects through office buildings and interrogation rooms — she’s investigating crimes in remote places where help can be miles away and evidence can vanish into the landscape itself. The setting changes the stakes. Out in the wilderness, there are endless places to hide secrets, and even more ways for things to go wrong.
Morwyn Brebner serves as showrunner, while Lea Thompson directs and executive produces. Brebner and Thompson executive produce alongside Todd Berger, Brett Burlock, Sonia Hosko, Julie Di Cresce, Peter Emerson, Gordon Gilbertson, Tom Cox, and Jordy Randall. Leslie Cowan serves as producer.
The series is produced by Cineflix, December Films, and SEVEN24 Films for USA Network in association with Bell Media. Cineflix Rights is the exclusive international worldwide distribution partner.
Anna Pigeon premieres Friday, August 7, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on USA Network.
