Dark Winds Season 3: Release Date, Cast, and More

With the return of Leaphorn and Chee to AMC’s psychological neo-noir Western Dark Winds, fans are eagerly anticipating the third season and are already speculating what lies next. Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee books center on the Navajo County tribal police and Dark Winds is an adaptation of one of his novels. The first two episodes premiered on AMC in 2022, and since then, the show has acquired a devoted fan base. In the shocking season 2 conclusion, played by Zahn McClarnon, veteran cop Joe Leaphorn met his son’s killer, B.J. Vines, played by John Diehl. This set the stage for an exciting third season of Dark Winds.

When its release date rolls around, Dark Winds season 3 will continue just where the critically acclaimed second season ended. According to Variety, the second season of Dark Winds saw a 146% increase in viewers compared to the first, and the creative team, actors, and network of AMC have all expressed their intention to keep the show going. While we don’t yet have much plot information for Dark Winds season 3, we do know that it will continue the Navajo reservation’s storyline starring Leaphorn, Chee, Bernadette, and others.

Dark Winds Season 3 Cast

Zahn McClarnon as Joe Leaphorn
Kiowa Gordon as Jim Chee
Jessica Matten as Bernadette Manuelito
Deanna Allison as Emma Leaphorn
A Martinez as Sheriff Gordo Sena

Season 3’s guest stars include Jenna Elfman, Bruce Greenwood, Raoul Max Trujillo, and many more, according to AMC. Carmelo Tonantzin, Alex Meraz, Serpico Terry, Hinkey Derek, Burke Phil, and Heyerdahl Christopher.

Dark Winds Season 3 Announced for 2025

Dark Winds, AMC’s critically acclaimed crime drama, has been renewed for a third season. The new episodes, which will be based on Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee book series, are not anticipated to premiere until early 2025, so fans will have to be patient. Many are looking forward to the third season of the program because of how well it did in the first two, which received positive reviews and had growing audiences.

Six months after Season 2’s events, Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee will resume their investigation into the boys’ inexplicable disappearance in Season 3. As the investigation progresses, Leaphorn and Chee face both professional and personal obstacles as they try to solve a case with far-reaching implications—the smuggling of both people and drugs. The story also follows Sgt. Bernadette Manuelito starts a new chapter in her life by joining the Border Patrol, only to get entangled in a bigger plot not long after.

According to What’s on Netflix, AMC has not revealed any formal guest actors for the upcoming season, although Zahn McClarnon (Joe Leaphorn), Kiowa Gordon (Jim Chee), and Jessica Matten (Bernadette Manuelito) are anticipated to return.

Dark Winds Season 3: True Events?

Whether or not the noir thriller is based on actual events is debatable, given how captivating it is. But it is not true. Tony Hillerman’s novels served as the inspiration for the series. Nonetheless, the historical events seen on film have their origins in the real world, and the struggles that the reserve dwellers endure are based on actual occurrences.

Graham Roland, who created the show, is also very committed to giving viewers an authentic portrayal of Navajo life. A culture counselor and language consultant are on staff at Dark Winds, and the whole writing space is occupied by Native Americans.

Video Source: AMC+

Do Dark Winds Follow Novels?

Some of the plots in the show are new and some are recycled from Tony Hillerman’s novels. While adapting literature for television, authors often adjust details to better suit their characters and the story they wish to portray.

For comparison, the first season is based on Listening Woman and the second on People of Darkness.