The New Mexico Film Office announces new television show, Dark Winds, produced by AMC Networks and Dark Winds Productions LLC, is currently in production in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The six-episode series will shoot in various locations around Santa Fe, Española, Pueblo of Cochiti, Pueblo of Tesuque, and the Navajo Nation from late August through November 2021 and is expected to premiere on AMC+ and AMC in 2022.
Dark Winds is a psychological thriller based on the iconic Leaphorn & Chee Navajo Tribal Police mystery novels by Tony Hillerman. The series follows two Navajo Police Officers as their search for clues in a grisly double murder case leads them deeper into the mysticism of Navajo spirituality and closer to the sins of their past. The production will employ approximately 200 New Mexico crew members and over 275 New Mexico background and extras.
“We are ecstatic that AMC is being so intentional about telling this story in an authentic way by creative talent whose work speaks for itself, with a Native American director from New Mexico, as well as Native American writers, actors, and locations. Dark Winds is a series that must be made in New Mexico — and we welcome the production and AMC to our state with open arms,” Amber Dodson, Director, New Mexico Film Office, said.
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, George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones), Tina Elmo (Mustang), and Vince Gerardis (Game of Thrones). The series stars Zahn McClarnon (The Son, Westworld, Fargo), who is also an executive producer, Noah Emmerich (The Americans, The Spy), and Kiowa Gordon (The Red Road, Roswell, New Mexico).
“We thank New Mexico and the Navajo Nation for welcoming us so graciously. There is no better community or location that could properly serve the authentic storytelling, look, and feel necessary for Dark Winds. This was our first and only choice, and we’re overwhelmed with the abundance of phenomenal talent and crew we are able to work alongside here,” executive producer and pilot director Chris Eyre said.
[Read our interview with Tony Hillerman biographer James McGrath Morris.]
From an August 31, 2021 press release from the New Mexico Film Office
This article was posted by Cheryl Fallstead
