Western Noir Thriller Series ‘Dark Winds’ Officially Begins Filming at AMC

AMC Studios' upcoming TV series Dark Winds has officially begun production today in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The psychological-thriller series which comes from AMC and Dark Winds Productions LLC will also shoot in Española, Pueblo of Cochiti, Pueblo of Tesuque, and the Navajo Nation.

The filming will continue in various parts of New Mexico through the end of November 2021. 

Dark Winds is a psychological thriller based on Tony Hillerman's classic Leaphorn & Chee Navajo Tribal Police mystery novels. The story follows two Navajo Police Officers as their search for answers in a brutal double murder case leads them deeper into the mystique of Navajo spirituality and closer to their own misdeeds. The six-episode series is set to debut on AMC+ and AMC in 2022.

The series stars Zahn McClarnon (The Son, Westworld, Fargo) as Joe Leaphorn, Noah Emmerich (The Americans, The Spy) as Whitover, and Kiowa Gordon (The Red Road, Roswell, New Mexico) as Jim Chee, Jessica Matten as Bernadette Manuelito, Rob Tepper as Pete Samuels, Jeremiah Bitsui as Hoski, and Stephen Conn.

The pilot will be directed by Chris Eyre (Smoke Signals, Skins, Skinwalkers, Edge of America, Hide Away), who also serves as executive producer, and Vince Calandra (Castle Rock, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Sharp Objects) serves as showrunner and executive producer. Additional executive producers include Robert Redford, Zahn McClarnon, George R.R. Martin, Tina Elmo (Mustang), and Vince Gerardis. 

“We are grateful to New Mexico and the Navajo Nation for their warm hospitality. There is no better town or setting to fulfill the authentic storyline, look, and feel required for Dark Winds. This was our first and only pick, and we're blown away by the incredible talent and crew we're able to collaborate here,” said Chris Eyre, executive producer, and pilot director.

“We are overjoyed that AMC is being so deliberate about telling this narrative authentically by creative talent whose work speaks for itself, including a Native American director from New Mexico, as well as Native American writers, performers, and locales. Dark Winds is a series that must be made in New Mexico, and we warmly welcome the production and AMC to our state,” said Amber Dodson, Director, New Mexico Film Office.