Behind the Scenes of AMC's 'Dark Winds': A Conversation with the Cast on Season 3 and Beyond

As Dark Winds Season 3 premiered on Sunday, March 9, fans were treated to an exclusive Q&A with the show’s cast just days before the debut. On Wednesday, March 5, TVLine’s Chief Content Officer, Matt Mitovich, sat down with stars Zahn McClarnon, Jessica Matten, Kiowa Gordon, and Deanna Allison for an intimate behind-the-scenes conversation. The event, part of the Conversations series, gave fans a glimpse into the making of the show and a preview of what's to come in the new season, which has already been renewed for another season.

With the announcement of a fourth season, the cast expressed relief and excitement about the future, especially in today’s ever-changing entertainment industry. When asked what first came to mind upon hearing the news of their renewal, the cast unanimously agreed: “Job security.”

For Zahn McClarnon, who plays the iconic role of Joe Leaphorn, the excitement goes beyond simply returning for another season. McClarnon shared that he will make his directorial debut in Season 4. While he expressed some nervousness about stepping into the director's chair, he is excited to have the support of Dark Winds’ primary director, Chris Eyre, and the rest of the team as he takes on this new challenge.

As Dark Winds continues to build momentum, it prepares to showcase even more of the complexities of life on a Native American reservation. This season will explore themes like intimacy, grief, and anger management, taking the audience deeper into the emotional lives of its characters. Additionally, the upcoming season will feature more episodes than the previous ones, signaling more significant character development and expanding storylines that fans can look forward to.

The cast then reflected on their initial reactions to joining Dark Winds. McClarnon was working on The Son and Barkskins when he was invited to join Dark Winds. He was excited by the opportunity to explore themes of Native American life through a new lens. For Deanna Allison, who plays Joe Leaphorn’s wife, Emma Leaphorn, Dark Winds marked her first major television series. She approached her role with an athlete’s mindset, “...when you play with a higher team, you ultimately perform higher…” she shared.

Jessica Matten was initially shocked when she was advised to audition for this role. At 5 feet 9 inches, she was over 5 inches taller than the character she was being asked to play. Despite this, Matten was honored to work alongside McClarnon, calling him “the best Native actor” and describing the cast as a group of truly exceptional performers.

Kiowa Gordon, who plays Jim Chee, was recruited for the role by Chris Eyre, the show’s director. McClarnon, Matten, and Gordon also shared a unique history; the three actors had been introduced to each other years before through Jason Momoa and, years later, found themselves collaborating on Dark Winds.

As the conversation turned to Season 3’s mysteries, McClarnon hinted at a deeper exploration of the trauma that Joe and Emma Leaphorn face in the wake of the loss of their child. “Joe finds himself dealing with the consequences of decisions he made in Season 2,” McClarnon explained. “There’s a lot of fear and anxiety this season.” Fans can expect significant developments in the characters’ arcs this year, with a strong focus on emotional healing.

The cast also discussed the representation of romantic love in the series, particularly the relationship between the married characters Joe and Emma Leaphorn. McClarnon pointed out how rare it is to see Native characters on screen in a romantic relationship, making their portrayal of love all the more significant. “How many times do you see two Native characters on screen fall in love? You just don’t see that very often,” McClarnon noted, emphasizing how important it is to tell these stories. Joe Leaphorn will be McClarnon’s first role with a romantic storyline, marking a change from his usual portrayals of villains and side characters.

Matten, who plays Bernadette Manuelito, shared her thoughts on the evolution of her role throughout the seasons. Over the past decade, she had been hesitant to take on certain roles out of fear of being over-sexualized or typecast. However, her experience on Dark Winds has helped her recognize the importance of representing love and intimacy in Native communities. “The part of progressing and storytelling is humanizing Indigenous experiences, and that includes telling love stories,” Matten explained.

When asked whether Dark Winds is helping to usher in a renaissance for American storytelling, McClarnon emphasized the need for more Native voices in all aspects of the industry, from direction to production. “We’re slowly but surely chipping away at the stereotypes we grew up with,” he said. “But we need to continue telling our own stories and have more Native directors, writers, producers, and actors in this space.”

As Dark Winds continues to break new ground in storytelling and representation, fans can look forward to even more powerful narratives and deeper explorations of its beloved characters in Season 3 and beyond.