Dark Winds Season 3: Cast, Release date, Filming Updates, & Everything we know so far

AMC and AMC+‘s popular show Dark Winds is getting ready for a third season. Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn (played by Zahn McClarnon) and his deputy, Jim Chee (played by Kiowa Gordon), will continue their story in the 1970s Navajo Nation with more action on the way. While fans wait for the new season, let's take a look at what we know so far.

Based on the Leaphorn & Chee novel series by Tony Hillerman, Dark Winds is a Western noir series from George R.R. Martin and Robert Redford. It is set in the 1970s and follows the pair as they investigate seemingly unrelated crimes.

In this article, we will tell you all about the release details, plot, new and old cast members, filming updates, and more about Dark Winds season three. Keep reading, and we will keep updating this space with new information as soon as it becomes available.

Release date & Where to Watch

Dark Winds season 3 will premiere on Sunday, Mar. 9, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET/PT and you can watch it on AMC and AMC+.

Plot

In season three of Dark Winds, the story continues six months after the events of season two. Leaphorn and Chee are investigating the disappearance of two boys. They only have an abandoned bicycle and a blood-stained patch of ground to work with. Meanwhile, Bernadette is settling into her new life 500 miles from home with the Border Patrol. She unexpectedly uncovers a conspiracy involving human and drug smuggling that has wide-reaching implications.

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Cast

• Zahn McClarnon as Chief Joe Leaphorn
• Kiowa Gordon as Jim Chee
• Jessica Matten as Bernadette Manuelito
• Deanna Allison as Emma Leaphorn
• A. Martinez as Scarborough Police Department Acting Chief Gordo Sena
• Jenna Elfman as FBI Special Agent Sylvia Washington
• Bruce Greenwood as Tom Spenser
• Raoul Max Trujillo as Budge
• Tonantzin Carmelo as Border Patrol Agent Eleanda Garza
• Alex Meraz as Border Patrol Agent Ivan Muños
• Terry Serpico as Border Patrol Senior Chief Ed Henry
• Derek Hinkey as Shorty Bowlegs
• Phil Burke as Michael Halsey,
• Christopher Heyerdahl as Dr. Reynolds

Trailer

The trailer begins with the voiceover, "We all have a line that runs down the middle of our heart, that line separates monsters from men." It then reveals the disappearance of two boys and introduces an FBI agent working on the case. Things get spooky and complicated as the threads of the mystery begin to unravel. Check it out below:

The first look begins with Joe saying, "When I was boy, and I went to school we were taught that, the monsters walked the Earth." Check it out below:

Where is Dark Winds Season 3 Filmed?

Production began in April 2024, with principal photography done in and around Santa Fe and Tesuque Pueblo, Mexico.

New Mexico Film Office Director Amber Dodson said, "The series' return is a testament to New Mexico's commitment to being a platform for authentic Indigenous filmmaking, as the series not only showcases the stunning landscapes of our state but also brings a unique and important story to life. The production's continued investment in New Mexico crew and talent benefits our creative economy, and we look forward to another successful season."

Behind the Scenes

Graham Roland (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan) created the show, and John Wirth (Hell of Wheels) serves as showrunner. Roland, Wirth, Zahn McClarnon (The Son), Robert Redford (The Mustang), George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones), Chris Eyre (Smoke Signals), Tina Elmo, Jim Chory, Vince Gerardis, and Anne Hillerman executive produce it.