Andrew Liner Talks Grit, Growth, and Ransom Canyon
interview
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interview ✦
Andrew Liner has steadily built a diverse and impressive resume, moving from breakout roles on Grown-ish and Vampire Academy to more recent performances in HBO’s Gray Matter and the indie feature Bang Bang. With each project, he’s taken on new challenges, showing a growing depth and versatility as an actor.
Now, Liner steps into his next chapter with Ransom Canyon, Netflix’s sweeping new drama from All-American and Wednesday creator April Blair. Set against a striking Texas backdrop and filled with family legacies, small-town tension, and slow-burning romance, the series offers Liner a new kind of challenge—and one he was eager to take on.
Now, on the heels of its release, we caught up with the rising actor to talk about his Ransom Canyon role, how he approached his character, and why he’s eager to return for more.
Photography: Tommy Flanagan
Congratulations on your exciting new role in Ransom Canyon! Can you tell us a little bit about your character in the series and what drew you to this role?
Andrew Liner: Thank you so much. I play Reid Collins. He is a firecracker, cocky high school quarterback that projects his insecurities onto others. What drew me to the role was the fact that Reid is so complex. On the outside, he might project confidence and coolness, but the reality is he is a grieving, sad, insecure person trying to find the good in himself.
Considering that Ransom Canyon is based on a book series, did you read any of the books before taking on the role? If so, how did they influence your portrayal of the character?
Andrew Liner: I was told by our showrunner not to read the books and to focus on my own interpretation of the character through the scripts. I think that helped a lot of us find our version of these characters through a very different version of “Ransom Canyon” told by April Blair. It gave me the creative freedom to explore Reid to the best of my abilities.
April Blair, known for successful shows like Wednesday and All-American, spearheads the series. What was it like collaborating with her on this project?
Andrew Liner: It was an immense pleasure and joy to even work with April, let alone collaborate with her on a character. I remember when I did the callback and I had my first phone call with April, I felt honored that she even watched my audition tape and picked me out of the hundreds or thousands of people that taped for Reid. So, collaborating with April was a lot of fun because she gave me a chance to give input on what I felt the character would say or do. She is a generous and strong leader.
The ensemble cast for Ransom Canyon includes notable names from next-gen talent to various seasoned actors. What’s something about this particular cast dynamic that feels unique to other projects you’ve been a part of?
Andrew Liner: A big part of the uniqueness for me was being entangled in the adult story just as much as I was in the “kids” story. I really enjoyed working with Josh, Minka, and Eoin. It was a lot of fun for me and let me learn from them a bunch. Also, riding horses and doing cowboy stuff was a completely new and exhilarating experience.
Ransom Canyon has a very specific setting, tone, and atmosphere. How did you prepare to embody your character within this specific world?
Andrew Liner: I just tried to tell the truth to the best of my ability. Maybe make a few things a bit more dramatic than they needed to be, but at the end of the day if I talk and listen, truthfully, I’m doing my job. Whenever I’m playing a high schooler again, I do some reflection on that time of my life in order to get me back into that mindset.
With its stunning backdrop, versatile cast, multi-generation writing, etc., what do you ultimately believe is Ransom Canyon’s biggest strength by the time the first season concludes?
Andrew Liner: I think it’s a show that has depth, but at the same time, it is an easy watch. And for those that just need to wind down at the end of the day, it is the perfect show. I think that that is a huge strength on top of having Josh and Minka.
In closing—by the time you wrapped, what surprised you most about this project?
Andrew Liner: How much of a family we all became. When you work on a job, it is just work, but we all become family and that is special!
