The good news? AMC Networks has officially renewed Dark Winds for a well-deserved third season. The bad news? The drama, based on the Leaphorn & Chee book series by Tony Hillerman, isn’t expected to return with new episodes until early 2025.
Zahn McClarnon (The Son), Kiowa Gordon (Roswell, New Mexico), and Jessica Matten (Burden of Truth) lead the cast of the critically acclaimed drama and are expected to return for season three. Season two also featured Deanna Allison (Accused) as Emma Leaphorn and Elva Guerra (Reservation Dogs) as Sally Growing Thunder.
Season two guest stars included Jeri Ryan (Star Trek: Picard) as Rosemary Vines, Nicholas Logan (Dopesick) as Colton Wolf, A Martinez (Longmire) as Valencia County Sheriff Gordo Sena, and Joseph Runningfox (The Politician) as Henry Leaphorn, Lt. Joe Leaphorn’s father.
“We started this journey with very high hopes for this series, given the remarkable source material and extraordinary creative team behind it, and it has delivered on every level,” stated Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks. “From the beloved novels, to an incredibly collaborative producing team that includes Robert Redford, George R. R. Martin, showrunner John Wirth, and star Zahn McClarnon, to the entire cast and crew, there is so much storytelling yet to come in this universe. Thanks to the fans for embracing this series and the critics for celebrating and shining a light on it.”
Dark Winds premiered in June 2022, and season two debuted in July 2023. Viewership increased from season one to season two, with the second season averaging 1.7 million viewers.
Graham Roland (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan) created the series and John Wirth (Hell of Wheels) serves as showrunner. Roland, Wirth, McClarnon, Robert Redford, George R.R. Martin, Anne Hillerman, Chris Eyre, Vince Gerardis, and Tina Elmo serve as executive producers.
The Plot, Courtesy of AMC Networks:
In the show’s second season, Lt. Joe Leaphorn (McClarnon), reunites with Jim Chee (Gordon), his former deputy turned private eye, when their separate cases bring them together in pursuit of the same suspect. They find themselves in the high desert of Navajo Country chasing a killer who’s turned his sights on them to protect a secret that rips open old wounds and challenges Leaphorn’s moral and professional code.
With the help of Sgt. Manuelito (Matten) and Valencia County Sheriff Gordo Sena, Leaphorn and Chee must thwart their would-be assassin and restore balance not only to their own lives, but to the reservation that depends on them.
- Dark Winds Season 2 Episode 1 “Na’nilkaadii” Preview
- Dark Winds Season 2 Episode 3 “Antigonish” Preview
- Dark Winds Season 2 Episode 4 “The March” Preview
- Dark Winds Season 2 Episode 5 “Black Hole Sun” Preview
- Dark Winds Season 2 Episode 6 Finale Preview
- Season 3 Adds Jenna Elfman and Bruce Greenwood
