Dark Winds Season 5

Production Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 19, 2026

Contact

Jey Bernal
Jey@NMFilm.com

Fifth season of ‘Dark Winds’ production will employ nearly 900 New Mexicans

SANTA FE - The hit AMC series “Dark Winds” is bringing nearly 900 jobs to New Mexico as it

films its fifth season in and around Santa Fe and Tesuque Pueblo, with production continuing

through July.

The production employs 564 New Mexico crew members, 67 New Mexico principal actors and

250 New Mexico background/extras.

Based on Tony Hillerman's iconic “Leaphorn & Chee” book series, “Dark Winds” is a

psychological thriller that follows two Navajo police officers — Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and

Deputy Jim Chee — in the 1970s Southwest, as their search for clues in a grisly double murder

case forces them to challenge their own spiritual beliefs and come to terms with the trauma of their

pasts.

Created and executive produced by Graham Roland (“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,” “The Returned,”

“Almost Human,” “Fringe”), the series stars Zahn McClarnon (“The Son,” “Westworld,” “Fargo”),

who is also an executive producer, Kiowa Gordon (“The Red Road,” “Roswell, New Mexico”),

Jessica Matten (“Tribal”) and New Mexico resident Deanna Allison Reines (“Accused”). The cast

also features A Martinez (“Longmire”).

The series boasts an all-star group of executive producers, including John Wirth (“Hell on

Wheels,” “Hap and Leonard”), who is also the showrunner, Chris Eyre, who also serves as

director, George R.R. Martin, Robert Redford, Tina Elmo, Jim Chory, Thomas Brady, Max

Hurwitz, Vince Gerardis and Anne Hillerman. The popular series’ fifth season was renewed as the

fourth season began to broadcast.

“ ‘Dark Winds’ is a prime example of what the New Mexico film industry is about,” said Steve

Graham, New Mexico Film Office director. “This production has found its home in the state and

continues to not only tell a New Mexico story but have New Mexicans working in front and

behind the camera to bring those stories to life on the small screen.”

The New Mexico Film Office was a finalist for two awards at the Cannes Film Festival, including

the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award for "Rooted Representation: Authentic Storytelling in

New Mexico,” for the series “Dark Winds,” which focuses on culturally authentic storytelling and

expanding opportunities for underrepresented communities behind and in front of the camera.

Film and television production supports thousands of jobs and has generated more than $3 billion

in direct economic impact over the past five years in New Mexico.

For more information about the project, email darkwindsproductionoffice@gmail.com.