AMC is getting an early start on the future of its drama series Dark Winds.
The company has renewed the series, based on Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee novels, for a fourth season. The pickup comes about two weeks before the March 9 premiere of season three on AMC and streamer AMC+.
Like the coming third installment, season four of Dark Winds will run for eight episodes, up from six apiece for the first two seasons. Production is slated to begin in March, with star and executive producer Zahn McClarnon making his directing debut on one of the episodes.
“When we greenlit the first season of Dark Winds, we saw the potential for an authentic and long-running franchise that could live alongside the worlds we were building around The Walking Dead and Anne Rice,” said Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks. “That is exactly what this cast and creative team delivered, and the fans have responded. It starts with Tony Hillerman’s unforgettable novels, cared for and attended to by a producing team that includes the likes of Robert Redford, George R. R. Martin, Chris Eyre and our showrunner John Wirth, and — at the center of everything — the truly extraordinary Zahn McClarnon and the entire cast. Fans have embraced this series on AMC/ AMC+ and made it a top 10 show on Netflix for a solid month last fall. There is so much great storytelling yet to come in these expanded third and fourth seasons.”
Season three of Dark Winds will pick up six months after the events of season two: Lt. Joe Leaphorn (McClarnon) and Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) investigate the disappearance of two boys, with only an abandoned bicycle and blood-stained patch of ground left in their wake. Meanwhile, Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) tries to settle into her new life 500 miles from home with the Border Patrol, but stumbles across a conspiracy involving human and drug smuggling. Jenna Elfman, Bruce Greenwood, Raoul Max Trujillo, Tonantzin Carmelo, Alex Meraz, Terry Serpico, Derek Hinkey, Phil Burke and Christopher Heyerdahl have guest roles, and A Martinez and Jeri Ryan reprise their prior roles.
“I’m looking forward to exploring and inhabiting the character of Joe Leaphorn once again in season four, and I’m excited to make my directorial debut on a show that means so much to me,” said McClarnon. “I’d like to send my gratitude and appreciation to Kristin Dolan, Dan McDermott, and all of the hard-working folks at AMC Networks for their support and commitment to Dark Winds. And of course, I’m most thrilled to be spending time with this wonderful cast and crew whom I have grown to love.”
Added showrunner Wirth, “Kristin Dolan, Dan McDermott, and everyone at AMC Networks have been so supportive of our little show. I know I speak for our superlative writers, extraordinary cast and dedicated crew when I say we are excited and energized by the opportunity to continue exploring and expanding the world of Dark Winds in a fourth season.”
Wirth executive produces the series with creator Graham Roland, McClarnon, Robert Redford, George R.R. Martin, Chris Eyre, Tina Elmo, Jim Chory, Vince Gerardis and Anne Hillerman.