Dark Winds: More Action, Deeper Mysteries Ahead

The fourth season of "Dark Winds," premiering on February 15, 2026, will introduce more action and deeper mysteries, with added supernatural elements. Lead actors Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, and Jessica Matten discuss the evolving narrative and character arcs.

This season sees Leaphorn, Bernadette, and Chee traveling to Hollywood to find a missing teenager, with Albuquerque serving as a stand-in for 1972 Los Angeles. Guest stars include Franka Potente as an assassin obsessed with Navajo culture and Udo Kier.

Gordon highlights Jim Chee's spiritual and physical crisis due to past trauma. The series also features a reunion with "Twilight" actor Chaske Spencer. The importance of an Indigenous-led production with a predominantly Native cast and crew is a significant theme.

Matten, who plays Bernadette, notes her character's connection to the missing teen. The show's producers are praised for their collaborative and authentic approach to storytelling, incorporating experiences of Native actors and consultants.

Cultural consultants Manny and Jennifer Wheeler play a crucial role in ensuring accuracy, from language and hairstyles to costume details and narrative elements, such as the portrayal of Navajo legends.

Production designer Guy Barnes and set decorator Wendy Ozols-Barnes have created new sets, including a chilling bunker for the antagonist. The show is filmed at Camel Rock Studios near Santa Fe, New Mexico, which houses extensive period-appropriate props and costumes.

The season also serves as a tribute to the late executive producer Robert Redford, who championed the adaptation of Tony Hillerman's novels for decades. "Dark Winds" continues Redford's legacy by training young Indigenous people for careers in television through internships.

"Dark Winds" has been renewed for another season and continues to showcase Navajo culture globally. The series premiered in 2022 and has received an unprecedented opportunity to highlight Indigenous storytelling.