Dark Winds Season 3: Confirmation, Cast & Everything We Know

Summary Dark Winds season 3 has been confirmed after the success of the first two seasons, with a 146% viewership spike in season 2.

AMC announced that Dark Winds season 3 will premiere in 2025, a departure from the previous summer releases.

The core cast members, including Zahn McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon, are expected to return for Dark Winds season 3, with potential new characters to be introduced.

Dark Winds season 3 is on the way, and viewers are already wondering what the future holds for AMC's psychological neo-noir Western when Leaphorn and Chee return. Dark Winds adapts Tony Hillerman's Leaphorn & Chee novels which focus on the Navajo County tribal police. Making its debut on AMC in 2022, the first two chapters have already drawn a dedicated following. The finale of season 2 saw veteran officer Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) exact justice on B.J. Vines (John Diehl), the man responsible for his son's death — an explosive ending that left the door wide open for Dark Winds season 3.

When the release date arrives, Dark Winds season 3 will be picking up where the hugely successful second left off. The second season of Dark Winds saw a 146% viewership spike over the first (via Variety), and both AMC and the cast, crew, and creative team of Dark Winds plan to continue. Dark Winds season 3 is confirmed to be on the way, and while there aren't many concrete details on the story yet, there are already a few hints at what's next for Leaphorn, Chee, Bernadette, and the rest of the Navajo reservation.

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Most Recent Dark Winds Season 3 News

The Guest Cast Is Announced

Months after the show was renewed, the latest news comes in the form of the guest cast list for the upcoming third season of Dark Winds. According to a press release from AMC, the third season of Dark Winds is already promising to be the most star-studde yet with the announcement that Jenna Elfman and Bruce Greenwood will head up the guest cast. Elfman is tapped to play FBI Agent Sylvia Washington while Greenwood will appear as Tom Spenser.

They're joined by and extensive list of newcomers, including:

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.

Dark Winds Has Been Renewed For Season 3

Season 3 Is On The Way

Executive producer Chris Eyre, who also directed the season 2 finale, believes there are plenty of stories left to tell.

Dark Winds has been renewed for season 3, as confirmed by AMC several weeks after the second season finale. This was welcome news, especially since many involved in the show made it clear that the story wasn't over. Executive producer Chris Eyre, who also directed the season 2 finale, believes there are plenty of stories left to tell. "I don’t feel like we’ve hit our stride with this series," Eyre told TVLine earlier the same month. He went on to note that Hillerman's source material is composed of a staggering 18 volumes, meaning there's plenty to draw from where Leaphorn and Chee are concerned.

Dark Winds season 2 concluded on September 3, 2023.

Dark Winds Season 3 Production Status

The Series Returns In 2025

There's no specific Dark Winds season 3 release date yet. However, when AMC announced the renewal they confirmed that the next season of Dark Winds will premiere in 2025. This makes a change from seasons 1 and 2, which only saw a gap of a year and both arrived in the summer, but delays in production starting due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes are the most likely culprit for AMC's preemptive decision to move the release window.

Related When Does Dark Winds Take Place? The AMC Show's Time Period Explained The acclaimed psychological thriller Dark Winds explores the American Southwest in a period setting while also faithfully recreating a novel series.

Dark Winds Season 3 Cast

The New & Returning Faces Of Season 3

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The cast of Dark Winds season 3 has largely been revealed, and it comes as no surprise that the main trio will be back reprise their roles after season 2 shocking finale. Zahn McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon will reprise their roles as Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, with Jessica Matten once again returning as Bernadette. A host of new guest stars have also been revealed for season 2, including Jenna Elfman as FBI Agent Sylvia Washington, and Bruce Greenwood as a character named Tom Spenser. Details about the new guest stars are scant, and it isn't clear yet how they'll fit into the story.

The confirmed cast of Dark Winds season 3 includes:

Actor Dark Winds Role Zahn McClarnon Joe Leaphorn Kiowa Gordon Jim Chee Jessica Matten Bernadette Jenna Elfman FBI Agent Sylvia Chase Bruce Greenwood Tom Spenser Raoul Max Trujillo Budge Tonantzin Carmelo Border Agent Eleanda Garza Alex Meraz Border Agent Ivan Muños Terry Serpico Border Patrol Senior Chief Ed Henry Derek Hinkey Shorty Bowlegs Phil Burke Michael Halsey Christopher Heyerdahl Dr. Reynolds

Dark Winds Season 3 Story

Leaphorn & Chee Investigate A Disappearance

Credit: Michael Moriatis/AMC

Even if the act brought Leaphorn much-needed catharsis concerning his son's death, it's clear that the past is never really laid to rest in this psychological thriller.

AMC has revealed the plot for the upcoming third season of Dark Winds and it offers a tantalizing mystery. Set six months after season 2's finale, the new season will follow Leaphorn and Chee as they investigate the disappearance of two young boys with almost no evidence to help them. Meanwhile, Bernadette attempts to find a place for herself at the Border Patrol Agency but discovers a conspiracy involving trafficking.

These developments will be important in Dark Winds season 3, but they're far from the only expected plot threads. Although the Dark Winds season 2 finale, "Hózhó náhásdlįį," sees Leaphorn confronting a crucial moral dilemma head-on, this doesn't tie up all the series' loose threads. Dark Winds season 2's ending saw Leaphorn killing Vines — albeit indirectly — which will likely complicate his character going forward. Even if the act brought Leaphorn much-needed catharsis concerning his son's death, it's clear that the past is never really laid to rest in this psychological thriller.