AMC has renewed “Dark Winds” for season 5 ahead of season 4’s premiere.
“Dark Winds” is set in the 1970s and follows three members of the Navajo Police Department (Zahn McClarnon as Inspector Joe Leaphorn, Kiowa Gordon as Jim Chee, and Jessica Matten as Bernadette Manuelito) as they solve the mystery behind violent crimes on the reservation. Season 4, which premiered on February 15 and consists of eight hour-long episodes, “focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chi, and Manuelito from the safety of the Navajo Nation to the rugged terrain of 1970s Los Angeles as they race against time to save her from a relentless killer with ties to organized crime,” according to the official description.
Season 5 will go into production in Santa Fe, New Mexico in March, and is expected to debut in 2027.
“Dark Winds” is based on Tony Hillerman’s “Leaphorn & Chee” book series and was created by Graham Rowland with John Worth serving as showrunner. Executive producers include Robert Redford, George R.R. Martin, Roland, Worth, McClarnon, Chris Eyre, Tina Elmo, Jim Cholly, Thomas Brady, Max Hurwitz, Vince Gerardis, and Anne Hillerman.
“For four seasons, Dark Winds has masterfully blended a compelling character-driven story, Navajo culture, spirituality, and breathtaking cinematography, and we are thrilled to continue this journey with showrunner John Worth and the incomparable Zahn McClarnon,” said Dan McDermott, chief content officer, AMC Networks, and president of AMC Studios. “Our exceptional production and creative teams, cast and crew have created a compelling crime drama that continues to be embraced by fans and widely praised by critics. We can’t wait to further share this incredible story with audiences around the world.”
“I would like to thank Christine Dolan, Dan McDermott and everyone at AMC Networks for their continued support and belief in Dark Winds,” said McClarnon. “It’s an honor to embody the character of Joe Leaphorn, and I’m excited to return to Santa Fe with this incredible cast and crew to create a thrilling season of a show that means so much to all of us.”
“For four seasons, AMC Networks has given us the opportunity to entertain viewers through the unique lens of a traditional crime story set on the Navajo Nation in 1972,” said Wirth. “We are one and we will never take this strong support for granted. Thanks to everyone at AMC Networks, our talented writing staff, our incredible cast, and our staff in Santa Fe, which is a training ground for Native artists, we are excited to return for a fifth season of Dark Winds.”
