The series is based on a book called “Leaphorn & Chee” by Tony Hillerman. Created by Graham Roland, ‘Dark Winds’ is a western noir thriller crime drama TV series that debuted on June 12, 2022, on AMC and AMC+. The first consisted of six episodes.
With the success of the first season, it is no surprise that a renewal announcement came early and fans couldn’t be happier.
Dan McDermott, Head of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks, applauded the squad behind the series, explaining in a statement:
“This once-in-a-lifetime creative team and cast have delivered something truly special with Dark Winds. We can’t wait to share the rest of this thrill ride of a first season with the fans and follow Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee into a second season on AMC and AMC+ next year. Overwhelming gratitude to our entire production team and a special thanks to executive producers Robert Redford, George R.R. Martin, Chris Eyre and of course Zahn McClarnon, who also leads the cast and brings humanity, authority, and the wisdom of richly lived experiences to everything he does.”
Is Dark Winds Renewed for Season 2?
After the launch of its first season, AMC renewed Dark Winds for a second run which will consist of six episodes. As per the network, the series is currently the top one new show release in AMC+ history.
It features Kiowa Gordon who plays deputy Jim Chee, alongside actors Jessica Matten, Deanna Allison, and Rainn Wilson among many others.
Speaking to The AU Review, star Zahn McClarnon talked about his role in the series.
“I’ve been doing this for quite a few decades now, and I think it’s a unique time for Native representation in TV and film,” he added. “I’m excited that I’m a part of this time. I’m glad that I stuck it out for the last 30 years. It wasn’t like this (when I started out). It’s slowly been changing, but I think we’re in a unique time. We got a long ways to go! But we have great shows like Reservation Dogs and Rutherford Falls and now Dark Winds that are slowly pushing that door open more and more so we have control over our own narrative.”
He continued, “Chris Eyre, who’s one of the EP’s, who’s Native, along with George R.R. Martin was very specific in hiring a Native writing room. We had a non-Native showrunner at the time, but we had Graham Roland, who’s Native, write the pilot. It was very important for the team that we brought in Native voices to recontextualize Tony Hillerman’s perspective on the Navajo culture in his books.”
Dark Winds Season 2 Release Date
The first season of Dark Winds was released on AMC on June 12, 2022, and ended on July 10, 2022. It consisted of a total of six episodes. As for the second season, AMC officially greenlit the psychological thriller crime drama series back in June 2022. So fans are now waiting in anticipation. Also just like its first season, the upcoming season will consist of six episodes in total although the showrunners did not provide any official air date, it is expected the new batch of episodes is scheduled to arrive sometime in 2023.
The episode list for season one are:
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Episode 1: Monster Slayer
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Episode 2: The Male Rain Approaches
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Episode 3: K’e
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Episode 4: Hooghandi
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Episode 5: Ha’íínlni
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Episode 6: HózhóoNaasháa
The Cast of Dark Winds Season 2
Find the expected cast & characters returning in the second season below:
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Zahn McClarnon plays Joe Leaphorn
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Kiowa Gordon portrays Jim Chee
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Jessica Matten depicts Bernadette Manuelito
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Deanna Allison plate Emma
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Rainn Wilson plays Devoted Dan
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Elva Guerra depicts Sally Growing Thunder
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Jeremiah Bitsui plays Hoski
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Eugene Brave Rock portrays Frank Nakai
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Noah Emmerich illustrates Whitover
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Rob Tepper plays Pete Samuels
Dark Winds Season 2 Plot: What to expect?
In a joint statement McClarnon and Eyre said, “Tony Hillerman gave us so much rich material to explore [and] we are excited to dive into Season 2 with the rest of the creative team and John as our showrunner. Together, we aim to return with something special for the fans of Dark Winds.”
Plot details are scant but the second season will likely proceed from where the first season concluded. So expect to see more new mysteries unfold. Till then, stay tuned for more information.