Netflix's The Hunting Wives was one of the breakout hits of 2025, and the psychological thriller is about to get even more intense. The series, which follows Sophie O'Neil (Brittany Snow) as she gets drawn into a dangerous world of obsession and murder in Deep East Texas, quickly became a binge-worthy sensation. Now, with Season 2 already wrapped, one of its standout stars is stepping into a much bigger role.
Karen Rodriguez, who played Deputy Wanda Salazar in a recurring capacity in Season 1, has been promoted to series regular for the sophomore outing. In an exclusive interview with Collider, Rodriguez explained that the promotion came as a complete surprise—but one she credits to fans. “It was totally the response and the fans saying, ‘We need the juxtaposition,’” she said. “We are watching the baddies, but we need that pillar of goodness to kind of give some danger, like somebody might catch them, you know?”
Rodriguez described Salazar as an aspirational character: “She’s incredibly smart, and she’s so tenacious. I think we all want a friend like that, or we all want to believe we’re like that. When I play her, I feel like a damn superhero.”
The actress also opened up about how the expanded role challenged her as a performer. For the first time, Salazar is the main point of view in the police storyline, which meant Rodriguez had to step into a leadership position on set. “I'm not following the lead of somebody else—I'm the one that has to do that,” she said. “It was very much like stepping into my power.” She added that the role taught her to advocate for herself, something she says isn’t taught in acting school.
Rodriguez also delved into the emotional complexity of Salazar. “Her exterior is very hard, and she’s been through so much,” she explained. “That constant push and pull of not letting things in, but then still remaining so soft and gooey on the inside… I tapped into my own having to be soft again. Sometimes it was really tough.”
Created by Rebecca Cutter (Hightown, Gotham), The Hunting Wives Season 1 was a wild ride, but Rodriguez promises Season 2 will exceed expectations. “There came a point where we were getting the episodes like a week before we shot,” she recalled. “I have never seen cast and crew go to set and be like, ‘Did you read this episode?’ We were shook. Season 2, I would have to put the script down and walk away.” She added that she’s excited to see fans’ reactions to the new twists.
While plot details remain under wraps, the cast also includes Dermot Mulroney, Chrissy Metz, Jaime Ray Newman, Katie Lowes, and Evan Jonigkeit. For those who haven't caught up, Season 1 is streaming now on Netflix. If you're a fan of twisty thrillers, you might also enjoy our list of the best 90s thriller movies or check out why The Night Agent is ending with Season 4.
With Salazar taking center stage and the stakes higher than ever, The Hunting Wives Season 2 is shaping up to be one of Netflix's most addictive returns. As Rodriguez put it, “No work is wasted. There’s good work, and you can learn from it. That’s why you’re an actor—it does teach you about yourself.”
