From Small-Town Sheriff to Reluctant Hero: Hartley Anchors a Gritty New Franchise
Paramount+ has officially announced its latest original series, Iron Pines, a high-stakes action-drama led by Justin Hartley. Best known for his emotionally resonant role as Kevin Pearson in This Is Us and his action-hero persona in CBS’s Tracker, Hartley continues to demonstrate impressive range by taking on the role of Sheriff Clay Maddox—a man battling both his past and the encroaching chaos threatening his small Montana town.
Iron Pines tells the story of Maddox, a war veteran who left behind a troubled military past to become the sheriff of Iron Pines, a rugged town nestled in the northern Rockies. For years, Maddox kept things quiet, enforcing the law with a steady hand while trying to find peace in solitude. But when a series of disappearances and unexplained accidents start plaguing the region—many tied to a decommissioned mining site with a murky history—Maddox is pulled into a conspiracy that challenges everything he thought he left behind.
Created by Cole Tinsley, a producer on Yellowstone, the show combines the wide-open frontier appeal of neo-Westerns with the hard-hitting action of military thrillers like Jack Ryan or Reacher. But unlike those shows, Iron Pines dives deep into themes of redemption, community survival, and the high personal cost of doing the right thing.
Hartley’s Maddox isn’t a conventional action hero. He’s weary, emotionally guarded, and skeptical of authority—a man who once believed in protecting others but lost faith during his final overseas deployment. In an early teaser released to the press, Maddox is seen staring down a government agent who warns him to stand down. His reply: “I buried my orders when I buried my brothers.”
Joining Hartley in the cast are Jessica Camacho as forensic pathologist Dana Ruiz, whose sharp intellect and haunted past make her an essential ally, and Richard Schiff as Senator Eli Voss, a politician with ties to the town’s buried secrets. The ensemble promises complex relationships and rich emotional stakes—elements Hartley has mastered throughout his career.
The tone of the series will be cinematic, with on-location filming in Glacier National Park and the Bitterroot Valley. The production team is emphasizing realism and environmental authenticity, using practical stunts and local talent to ground the story in real-world texture. The showrunners have also consulted with veterans to ensure that Maddox’s military background is portrayed with nuance and respect.
Hartley, who also serves as executive producer, called Iron Pines “the most intense and personal role of my career,” adding, “It’s about the war we fight with ourselves just as much as the ones we fight out there.”
Iron Pines begins filming in late 2025 with a release date tentatively set for summer 2027. Paramount+ is reportedly considering spinoffs or anthology arcs depending on the success of the initial season. If Iron Pines delivers on its promise, it could cement Justin Hartley as a new icon of prestige television—one who balances action with heart, and conflict with conscience.
