Dark Windshas been renewed for season 4 ahead of its season 3 premiere. Created by Graham Roland, based on theLeaphorn & Cheebooks by Tony Hillerman, the AMC series stars Zahn McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon as the two titular Navajo Tribal Police officers who, along with Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten), investigate the mysteries behind violent crimes in the Southwest during the 1970s. TheDark Windscast, comprised mostly of Native American actors, also includes Deanna Allison, Rainn Wilson, Elva Guerra, Jeremiah Bitsui, Eugene Brave Rock, Noah Emmerich, and Nicholas Logan.
Dark Windsis executive produced by George R. R. Martin and Robert Redford.
Now, perVariety,Dark Windshas officially been renewed for season 4, and it will air in 2026. The news comes ahead of the season 3 premiere on March 9. It’s also confirmed that McClarnon will make his directorial debut during season 4. McClarnon, showrunner John Wirth, and AMC’s president of entertainment Dan McDermott shared the following statements:
McDermott: 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. 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.
McClarnon: I’m looking forward to exploring and inhabiting the character of Joe Leaphorn once again in Season 4, and I’m excited to make my directorial debut on a show that means so much to me. 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.
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.
What Dark Winds' Season 4 Renewal Means For The Show
AMC Is Displaying Immense Confidence Once Again
By renewingDark Windsahead of its season 3 premierenext month,AMC is displaying immense confidence in its original series, which has been one of the network’s most acclaimed and popular programs of the past few years. The first two seasons ofDark Winds, based on the booksListening WomanandPeople of Darkness, both hold perfect 100% scores on Rotten Tomatoes, with much of the praise from critics directed towards Zahn McClarnon’s powerful performance, the show’s strong writing, and its exploration of an underrepresented cultural setting.
Dark Winds Season 2 Ending Explained
Dark Winds season 2 finally answered the mystery of who was behind the bombing as Joe Leaphorn’s revenge plans clashed with the law’s response.
The AMC series has also been quite popular amongst audiences.Dark Windsseason 2 ranked among the top 10 most-watched cable dramas for the summer of 2023, averaging about 1.7 million viewers an episode, per Nielson.Dark Windsseasons 1 and 2 were also later added to Netflix and became a big hit on the streaming service, appearing on its Global Top 10 chart. Season 3 will be the first to air on AMC since then, which could see a big bump in viewership, as past series likeBreaking Badhave because of their availability on Netflix.
Our Take On Dark Winds' Season 4 Renewal
It Could Become One Of AMC’s Greatest Series
Dark Windsseason 4’s early renewal suggests that it could cement itself as one of AMC’s greatest series, alongsideBreaking Bad,Better Call Saul,The Walking Dead, andMad Men. It’s critically acclaimed, indicated by its first two seasons holding perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes scores, and its recent success on Netflix also suggests a growing audience. If season 3 sees a surge in viewership as a result,Dark Windscould enter the upper echelon of AMC series, cementing its place amongst the network’s storied history.
