Leaphorn and Chee remain associated with the case at AMC.
The cable channel and sister streamer AMC+ have been renewed Dark winds for a third season. The pickup comes about three weeks after the conclusion of the drama’s second season, which is among the top 10 cable dramas this season. AMC is targeting an early 2025 premiere date for season three, with writing and production resuming after writer and actor strikes end.
Based on the Leaphorn & Chee novels by Tony Hillerman, Dark winds – which was some thirty years in the making – stars Zahn McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon as Navajo detectives Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, and Robert Redford and George RR Martin are among the executive producers.
“We began this journey with very high expectations for this series given the remarkable source material and the extraordinary creative team behind it, and the series has delivered on every level,” said Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks. “From the beloved novels to an incredibly collaborative production team including Robert Redford, George RR Martin, showrunner John Wirth and star Zahn McClarnon, to the entire cast and crew, there is so much more story to come in this universe. Thank you to the fans for embracing this series and the critics for celebrating and highlighting it.”
The series averaged 1.7 million viewers in the Nielsen three-day ratings for its second season. AMC (like most other media companies) doesn’t release detailed streaming numbers, but says the show’s performance on AMC+ has improved from season one.
Jessica Matten, Deanna Allison and Elva Guerra also star. Guest stars for season two include Jeri Ryan, Nicholas Logan, A Martinez and Joseph Runningfox. More than 90 percent of the cast and crew for season two are Indigenous.
Graham Roland (Jack Ryan) made Dark windswith Wirth (Hell on wheels) as showrunner. They co-produce with McClarnon, Redford (who owns the rights to Hillerman’s novels), Martin (a longtime friend of Hillerman’s), Anne Hillerman, Chris Eyre, Vince Gerardis and Tina Elmo.
In addition to AMC and AMC+, Dark Winds is currently streaming on Max as part of a “programming pop-up” showing various AMC Networks series through October 31.
