In Conversation: Jack Schumacher from Netflix's Ransom Canyon

The actor opens up about playing Yancy Grey, his lead role in Ransom Canyon—Netflix’s brooding new western drama, now streaming worldwide.

Photo: Irvin Rivera 

Netflix’s Ransom Canyon is the kind of show that quietly takes over your weekend. A romantic western set against the stark, sun-bleached beauty of Texas Hill Country, the 10-episode drama folds together love, legacy, and land disputes among three long-standing ranching families. But beneath the sweeping vistas and slow-burn storytelling, there’s something sharper—something that simmers. And a lot of that has to do with Jack Schumacher.

As one of the series’ key new faces, Schumacher plays a man whose sudden arrival in Ransom Canyon sends quiet shockwaves through the tight-knit community. His backstory is unclear, his motivations murky—but his presence is undeniable. There’s a quiet intensity to how he moves through scenes, a controlled sort of magnetism that makes you want to know what he’s not saying. It’s a performance that doesn’t beg for attention, but earns it—and in a show where restraint is often more revealing than confrontation, that matters.

While Ransom Canyon may feel like Schumacher’s breakout moment, it’s hardly his first time on screen. He starred opposite to Murray Bartlett in Welcome to Chippendales, and appeared as Omaha in Top Gun: Maverick. He’s also turned up in Empire, Chicago P.D., S.W.A.T., and the indie rom-com 40 Dates & 40 Nights. But in Ransom Canyon, there’s more room to breathe. More silence. More tension. And more space for Schumacher to settle into a character with real gravity.

We spoke to Jack ahead of the show’s premiere about stepping into a modern western, finding nuance in stillness, and the unique experience of joining a story already thick with family history and generational weight.

Your character’s arrival in Ransom Canyon suggests he’s there to shake things up. What kind of energy or chaos does he bring to the story?

JS: Yancy is absolutely there to shake things up in Ransom Canyon which is why he is such an exciting character to portray! He comes into town with a lot of secrets and baggage and without giving too much away, his motivations have consequences for both the town and him. But the thing I love most about this character is that he's not simply an agent of chaos, which rarely happens in real life. There is a complexity and history revealed that motivates his decisions, for better or worse, but at the end of the day he's ultimately just trying to find his place in the world and in Ransom. 

The show is a modern Western with romance, family rivalries, and high stakes. Did you tap into any classic Western influences, or did you approach this role with a totally fresh perspective?

JS: I wasn’t inspired by any classic western influences particularly, but one of my favorite modern westerns of all time is “Hell or High Water”, and that film continues to impact me in a big way. While it has a much darker tone than Ransom Canyon, the performances and setting provide a deep well of inspiration I pull from often. Other than that, I mostly approached the role with a fresh perspective, including all my research into bull riding which I knew nothing about before filming! The film "8 Seconds", a nonstop stream of bull riding clips and bull rider interviews, and very intense physical training all helped shape a big part of Yancy’s character. 

Photo: Irvin Rivera 

What’s something about the show, or your character, that might surprise viewers going in?

JS: I think that the recent massive success of the western genre in television might initially cause viewers to be wary of a copycat show. But what I love so much about Ransom Canyon, and what will make it stand out, is that it doesn't try to be a knock-off of something else. It's a multi-generational romance set in a stunning backdrop, and each episode gets better and better! Our showrunner April Blair and our writers are so talented and brilliant, and they've created a rich and complex world that you won’t want to leave.

This season has a stacked cast with actors like Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly. What was the dynamic like on set?

JS: I've been very fortunate so far in my acting career to work with and watch some unbelievably talented people like Josh and Minka.  This was without a doubt the most joyful and fun set that I've ever been lucky enough to be part of, and I believe every single cast and crew member would agree with this sentiment. But this dynamic doesn't exist if the leads don’t bring that high energy level every day, and Josh and Minka totally crushed it. I simply cannot speak highly enough about both, and every other person in this cast. I've learned so much from everyone that I worked with in Season 1, and I hope to work with all of them for many more seasons to come.

You’ve done action, drama, and now a modern Western. Is there a genre or type of role you’re itching to take on next?

JS: Ah man, this is the most exciting part about being an actor! You have no idea what is going to pop up next for you. I've been able to play so many amazing parts already, and there is something great about every one of them. So whatever genre or part comes next, all I know is that I will be incredibly excited for it. That said, I would love to do more comedy and stretch myself as an actor in that way. Or a vampire...a vampire would also be cool…