The fourth season of the hit TV series kicks off February 15 on AMC.
Season 4 of Dark Winds, the hit drama series based on books by the late Tony Hillerman, doesn’t kick off until February 15. But AMC announced Thursday that a Season 5 has already been green-lit.
"Over four seasons, said Dan McDermott, Chief Content Officer of AMC Networks and President of AMC Studios, “Dark Winds has masterfully blended compelling character-driven stories, Navajo culture, spirituality and breathtaking cinematography. We are elated to continue the journey alongside showrunner John Wirth and the incomparable Zahn McClarnon.
“Our extraordinary producing and creative team, cast and crew have crafted a gripping crime drama that continues to be embraced by fans and widely celebrated by critics. We can’t wait to share more of this incredible story with audiences across the globe.”
For the benefit of those who tuned in late: Set in the 1970s, Dark Winds focuses on the exploits of Lt. Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon), Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon), and Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) of the Navajo Tribal Police as they solve mysteries on their reservation near Monument Valley. During Season 4, the three lead characters find themselves on the mean streets of Los Angeles while racing against time to find a missing Navajo girl who has witnessed a murder.
“It’s such a privilege to embody the character of Joe Leaphorn,” says McClarnon, who also serves as an executive producer for Dark Winds, “and I’m excited to return to Santa Fe with this amazing cast and crew to craft another thrilling season of the show that means so much to all of us.”
Executive producer and showrunner John Wirth adds: “For four seasons now AMC Networks has provided us with the opportunity to entertain audiences through the unique lens of a traditional crime story set on the Navajo Nation in 1972.
“Thanks to everyone at AMC Networks, our talented writing staff, stunning cast, and a Santa Fe crew that’s become a training ground for Native artists, we’re thrilled to be coming back for a fifth season of Dark Winds.”
Season 5 of Dark Winds begins filming in Santa Fe, New Mexico in March, The eight hour-long episodes are set to debut in 2027.
Among the guest stars in Season 4 of Dark Winds: Franka Potente (Run Lola Run, The Bourne Supremacy) as Irene Vaggan, a merciless assassin with ties to organized crime; Isabel DeRoy-Olson (Fancy Dance) as Billie Tsosie, a resourceful Navajo teenager who wants to connect with her people outside of her boarding school, but quickly finds herself in over her head with only her cunning and resilience keeping her alive; and Chaske Spencer (The English, Wild Indian) as Sonny, a recruiter for a Los Angeles crime ring who through his charm and menace lure young Native American men recently relocated to the city from their reservations into a life of crime.
Also: Luke Barnett (The Crossing Over Express) as FBI Special Agent Toby Shaw, who arrives searching for answers to a mystery involving one of his friends; and Titus Welliver (Bosch, Bosch: Legacy) as Dominic McNair, a ruthless crime boss who imports and exports drugs and stolen luxury goods into and out of Los Angeles.
Returning from previous seasons: Deanna Allison (Accused, Edge of America) as Emma Leaphorn, Joe’s wife, and A. Martinez (Longmire, Far Haven) as Scarborough Police Department Acting Chief Gordo Sena.
