DARK WINDS Earns Early Season 5 Renewal From AMC Networks
AMC Networks clearly believes in the future of Dark Winds. The acclaimed crime drama has officially landed an early renewal for Season 5, and the announcement arrives just days before Season 4 even begins.
The network confirmed that production on the new season will start in March in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Season 5 will run for eight hour-long episodes and is scheduled to premiere in 2027. This renewal speaks to how well the series has performed with audiences and critics.
Dark Winds is based on Tom Hillerman’s Leaphorn and Chee book series. The story follows Lt. Joe Leaphorn, played by Zahn McClarnon, along with Jim Chee, played by Kiowa Gordon, and Bernadette Manuelito, played by Jessica Matten.
Together they work for the Navajo Tribal Police, solving complex cases on the reservation during the 1970s as the region faces rising waves of dangerous and unpredictable crime. The television adaptation was created by Graham Roland and has steadily grown into one of AMC’s most respected original programs.
Season 4 pushes the characters into new territory. The story revolves around the disappearance of a young Navajo girl. That investigation drags Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito away from the familiar ground of Navajo Nation and drops them into the harsh urban landscape of 1970s Los Angeles.
What begins as a missing person case quickly becomes a desperate hunt for an obsessive killer connected to organized crime. The shift in location promises to expand the scope of the show while keeping its intense personal focus.
Dark Winds counts the late Robert Redford and George R.R. Martin among its executive producers. AMC Networks leadership made it clear they are proud of what the series has achieved.
Dan McDermott, Chief Content Officer of AMC Networks and President of AMC Studios, expressed that excitement in a statement.
“Over four seasons, 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.”
Dark Winds has carved out a unique space on television by mixing procedural storytelling with authentic cultural perspective and grounded human drama. Each season has expanded the world while staying true to the characters at its core.
Fans won’t have to wait long for the next chapter. Season 4 premieres on February 15 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC and AMC+.
With Season 5 already locked in, viewers can settle in knowing the story of Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito isn’t ending anytime soon.
Source: Deadline