Hart of Dixie's Wilson Bethel Auditioned for 'Ransom Canyon' With Minka Kelly

When Us Weekly suggested to Wilson Bethel that he would be a great fit for Ransom Canyon, he revealed that he actually auditioned for Netflix’s hit cowboy show.

“I auditioned for Ransom Canyon. I read with Minka Kelly for that show,” the Hart of Dixie alum told Us Weekly while promoting Untamed.

Bethel, who previously worked with Kelly’s Friday Night Lights love interest Scott Porter, tried out for Eoin Macken’s role as Davis Collins.

“I tried out for the other guy in the love triangle [with Minka and Josh Duhamel],” Bethel said. “Look, I never say never. I’m psyched for them. That show obviously has been met with a lot of success and who knows what the future holds [about booking another role in season 2].”

Based on Jodi Thomas‘ book series of the same name, Ransom Canyon, which premiered in April, introduced Us to a town full of drama, romance and hope. The first season kicked off with stoic rancher Staten (Duhamel) grieving two major losses while navigating an undeniable connection to childhood friend Quinn (Kelly), who has also caught the eye of Staten’s brother-in-law and rival Davis (Macken).

Netflix recently renewed the show for a second season, which leaves the door open for a possible cameo from Bethel in a different role. For now, however, Bethel is focused on his role in the Untamed miniseries after it premiered on Thursday, July 17.

Untamed is set in Yosemite National Park where a woman’s death draws a federal agent into lawless terrain, where nature obeys no rules but its own. Bethel plays Shane, an introverted former army ranger and current park Wildlife Management Officer.

“When I first started auditioning for the character, I didn’t know the full extent of his motivations and what was guiding him,” Bethel explained to Us. “In that stage where I’m initially putting together the character and figuring out who he is, I’m making some educated guesses that weren’t entirely accurate.”

Bethel preferred the mystery surrounding his role.

“One of the things that I think is fascinating about this show in general is how deftly they tease out the information to really keep it, obviously, twisty and in line with what this kind of genre of show should be,” he said. “But they do it in a really graceful and interesting way. In a way that feels like it’s not cheaply [fleshed] out.”

According to Bethel, the build-up “really culminates” to a big reveal, adding, “It’s a huge payoff as a viewer. It’s a huge payoff in character terms. We’ve been getting these really interesting dynamic performances from all these different actors in the show. Suddenly that one little twitch that one character did in this previous episode or that one look that was shared by another character [becomes], ‘Oh, that’s what that meant.’”

He continued: ”If you go back and watch it a second time, what a cool thing to be part of one of those shows that potentially rewards rewatching certain moments. You can see those things with different eyes on that second watch.”

Untamed is currently streaming on Netflix.