The first novel in the Leaphorn and Chee series, titled The Blessing Way, was published in 1970 by Tony Hillerman, an American detective writer. The novel introduced us to Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, two Navajo Tribal Police officers. The duo’s adventure was chronicled in more than 18 novels, and in 1991, a feature film titled The Dark Wind was released.
Producing the picture were Patrick Markey and Robert Redford. Over three decades later, it was revealed that AMC was adapting Hillerman’s Leaphorn and Chee book series for television, with Robert Redford of The Dark Wind and George R.R. Martin of Game of Thrones serving as executive producers.
Dark Winds is set in the 1970s in a remote Navajo Nation outpost and chronicles the lives of two Navajo police officers, Joe Leaphorn (portrayed by Zahn McClarnon) and Jim Chee (played by Kiowa Gordon). The cops are confronted with a series of seemingly unrelated crimes, and while they seek clues, they are compelled to confront their own spiritual beliefs and confront their tragic pasts.
Graham Roland created Dark Winds, which was directed by Chris Eyre and Sanford Bookstaver. The show’s showrunner and executive producer will be Vince Calandra. Graham Roland, Zahn McClarnon, Tina Elmo, Vince Gerardis, Chris Eyre, George R. R. Martin, and Robert Redford are all executive producers on the show.
Roland leads the writers’ room for Dark Winds, which is composed completely of Native American authors. The majority of the show’s filming settings were in New Mexico, which began on August 23, 2021. Additionally, Monument Valley, Kayenta, Espaola, and Mexican Hat were utilized. Here’s all you need to know about AMC’s upcoming noir thriller series, Dark Winds, including its premiere date and streaming information.
When Is Dark Winds Season 1’s Premiere Date?
The first season of Dark Winds will launch on AMC and AMC+ on June 12, 2022, with two episodes. It will air at 9 pm ET/PT on AMC.
Who Are the Cast and Crew of Dark Winds?
Joe Leaphorn is Zahn McClarnon in Dark Winds. Longmire, a 2012 western crime drama, made McClarnon famous for his recurrent role as Officer Mathias. Additionally, he portrayed Toshaway in the 2017 western drama series The Son. His work extends beyond western television series. In the 2020 drama series Barkskins, he portrayed Yvon, and he also participated in the 2021 Marvel series Hawkeye.
Kiowa Gordon plays Jim Chee in the movie Dark Winds. Gordon is best recognized for his portrayal of the shapeshifter Embry Call in The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn. In the 2014 short-lived drama The Red Road, he portrayed Junior.
Noah Emmerich also appears in Dark Winds as Whitover, an FBI agent with a fading career. Emmerich’s performance as FBI agent Stan Beeman earned him the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role in the 2013 spy drama series The Americans. Additionally, Emmerich has appeared in films such as The Truman Show (1998) and Super 8 (2011).
Rainn Wilson portrays Devoted Dan, a corrupt missionary who relies on his faith to win over disciples. Wilson is best known for his portrayal of Dwight Schrute in the NBC American version of the BBC comedy The Office 2001, The Office.
For his part in The Office, Wilson garnered three consecutive nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Emmy Award. Wilson portrayed Trevor on the sitcom Mom and Arthur Martin on the HBO dark comedy series Six Feet Under.
Graham Roland has produced Dark Winds. Roland is the writer of numerous critically acclaimed television series, including Prison Break, Lost, Fringe, Almost Human, and Jack Ryan. Additionally, Roland co-produced several of the shows he created, including Fringe and Almost Human. Roland is credited with one episode of Dark Winds and serves as the show’s executive producer.
George R. R. Martin is also an executive producer for the Dark Winds television series. Martin is most renowned for his award-winning series of epic fantasy novels, A Song of Ice and Fire, which was transformed into one of HBO’s most popular programs, Game of Thrones. Martin served as a producer on several episodes of Game and Thrones and is the creator and executive producer of the forthcoming Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon.
Dark Winds also lists Robert Redford as an executive producer. This is not the first time Redford has adapted a novel from the Leaphorn and Chee series.
As stated previously, Redford directed the 1991 picture adaptation of the novel series The Dark Wind. His son James Redford wrote and Chris Eyre directed the 2002 picture Skinwalkers, which was likewise based on a Leaphorn and Chee novel. Redford served as executive producer. Chris Eyre has also returned as an executive producer for the new television series.
Dark Winds Plot
“Dark Winds is set in 1971 in a remote outpost of the Navajo Nation near Monument Valley and follows Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn of the Tribal Police as he is besieged by a series of crimes that appear to be unrelated. The farther he digs for the truth, the more he reveals his past traumas. On this journey, he is accompanied by his new deputy, Jim Chee. Chee carries ancient grudges from his childhood on the reservation. On the way to salvation, the two men fight together against the powers of evil, each other, and their demons.”
Watch the Dark Winds Trailer
The trailer immediately thrusts us into a murder scene. Two individuals were slain in a hotel, and Leaphorn analyses the site and concludes that foul play was likely involved. Then, we are introduced to Leaphorn’s new departmental assistant, Chee. Together, Leaphorn and Chee begin to investigate the atrocities occurring in their community.
The duo interviews various individuals but encounters barriers, leaving them with no leads or suspects in the case. Meanwhile, another crime occurs in the city, leading to the death of a woman named Anna. Leaphorn tears while holding a photograph of Anna, while Chee swears to determine who killed Anna. Who is responsible for these crimes? Anna is unknown to Leaphorn.
Will the trio finally apprehend the perpetrator? The trailer raises questions that can only be answered by the show itself.
How Many Episodes Does Dark Winds Have?
Dark Winds will consist of six episodes. The last episode will premiere on AMC+ and AMC on July 10 and July 17, respectively.
Where Can You Stream Dark Winds?
Dark Winds will air on AMC and AMC+ exclusively. After the premiere, a new episode will air every Sunday on AMC and beginning June 19, AMC+ subscribers will get access to an additional episode a week early. If you do not already have AMC+, you can subscribe for $9 per month or $83.88 per year.
Where Is Dark Winds Filmed?
On August 23, 2021, production began in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In addition to Espaola, Tesuque Pueblo, Cochiti Pueblo, and the Navajo Nation, filming took place in these locations. Midway through October, filming took place in Mexican Hat, Monument Valley, and Kayenta.