Home / Arts and Entertainment / Anna Pigeon: From Books to TV After 23 Options
Anna Pigeon: From Books to TV After 23 Options
21 Aug
Summary
- The series is based on Nevada Barr's 1993 novel series about park ranger Anna Pigeon.
- Bringing the character to television took nearly two decades and 23 property optioning attempts.
- The show's first season adapts the debut novel 'Track of the Cat' and features original stories.
Tracy Spiridakos stars as Anna Pigeon, a park ranger who made her television debut in August 2026. The USA Network crime drama is adapted from Nevada Barr's popular book series, which originated in 1993. Bringing Anna's story to the screen was a lengthy process, with the rights optioned 23 times over nearly two decades.
Showrunner Morwyn Brebner and executive producer Lea Thompson successfully adapted the series, inspired by Barr's experiences working for the National Park Service. The first episode follows the plot of Barr's 1993 novel, "Track of the Cat," with other episodes incorporating original stories. Future seasons may include more adaptations from the 19-book run.
Nevada Barr confirmed that "Anna Pigeon" is not based on a true story but is inspired by her time as a park ranger. She drew inspiration from national parks where she worked, like Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas. Barr has mentioned basing Anna's character on herself, describing her as someone who can be both lonely and assertive.
New episodes of "Anna Pigeon" air Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on the USA Network. Following the season finale on October 9, all episodes will be available for streaming on USANetwork.com and Fandango.
