Tracy Spiridakos plays a crime-solving park ranger in the new drama based on Nevada Barr’s book series.
Looks like Kyle Turner (Eric Bana) of Untamed won’t be the only one solving mysteries in National Parks later this year. Anna Pigeon, a new drama based on the best-selling book series by Nevada Barr, is slated to premiere in the second half of 2026 on USA Network.
Tracy Spiridakos, late of Chicago P.D. and Revolution, will play the title character, who’s described by USA as “a former city slicker who became a park ranger after a devastating loss changed the trajectory of her life forever.” As Anna attempts to outrun her demons, “her focus turns to solving crimes that have taken place within national park grounds, no matter who or what gets in her way.”
In an exclusive interview with Deadline, Spiridakos said: “I read the pilot and just completely fell in love with Anna. I love that there are similarities to [Hailey Upton, her Chicago P.D. character] in certain things, but they’re also really different in a lot of ways. The tone of the show is totally different; it’s much more light-hearted and fun, fun in a different way.
“I was just really drawn to her grit, and also her sense of humor and sarcasm, and all the other characters all around. I was really excited to get to jump in.”
Working in the great outdoors — the series is filmed in Alberta, Canada — has been especially appealing to Spiridakos.
“I hope that audiences can really immerse themselves in the wilderness,” she told Deadline, “which is definitely its own character. It’s so stunningly beautiful. Every day we were working, and I looked around, pinching myself and wondering, ‘How is this my life?’”
Other members of the Anna Pigeon cast include Ronnie Rowe Jr. (Star Trek: Discovery) as FBI agent Frederick Stanton, described as “a charismatic wanderer who chases crimes through national parks and keeps his cool;” Paulina Alexis (Reservation Dogs) as Zoey Bear Child, a young ranger Anna mentors; Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica, Lucifer) as Molly Pigeon, Anna’s older sister; Kim Coates (Sons of Anarchy, American Primeval) as Jeremiah Paulson, a local landowner; and Cooper Levy (Murdoch Mysteries) as Jesse Garland, a bartender and Anna’s on-again/off-again love interest.
Anna Pigeon has been a long-gestating labor of love for Lea Thompson, the film and television actress (Back to the Future, Caroline in the City) who also frequently works on the other side of the cameras as a TV director (Star Trek: Picard, Will Trent) and producer.
“I have some very exciting news,” she announced in an Instagram video. “I have been working on a project called Anna Pigeon based on the Nevada Barr mystery novels for 15 years! And it didn’t get made, and I kept fighting and fighting, and it’s starting shooting tomorrow! I’m the producer — the executive producer — and I’m directing the pilot. That’s right, I’m directing the pilot.
“Anyways, hard work. Dreams can come true if you just keep at it,” she added. “I teamed up with some amazing producers that wouldn’t give up, and I’ve got a storyboard, I’ve got call sheets, I’ve got a crew, and an amazing cast. I can’t wait for you to meet them.”
The premiere episode of Anna Pidgeon is based on Track of the Cat — appropriately enough, the first novel in Nevada Starr’s book series. It’s now available as an Audiobook on YouTube.
