The highly acclaimed AMC noir thriller Dark Winds is set to deliver its most ambitious and intense season to date with Season 4, premiering on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC and AMC+. The eight hour-long episodes promise to push the beloved Navajo Tribal Police team far beyond their familiar territory, thrusting Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and his colleagues into the chaotic, unforgiving underbelly of 1970s Los Angeles. This bold shift marks a dramatic evolution for the series, which has maintained a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score across its first three seasons, blending gripping crime-solving with deep cultural authenticity rooted in Tony Hillerman’s iconic Leaphorn & Chee novels.
At the heart of the new season is a high-stakes search for a missing Navajo teenage girl, initially thought to be a simple runaway from a boarding school—a scenario all too common in the era. What begins as a routine investigation on the Navajo Nation quickly escalates into a desperate race against time. The trail leads Lt. Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon), Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon), and Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) to the sprawling, neon-lit streets of Los Angeles, where they confront an obsessive killer with deep connections to organized crime. The change in setting introduces a stark culture clash: the officers, accustomed to the vast deserts and tight-knit communities of the reservation, now navigate a big-city world of corruption, back alleys, and ruthless power players who have little regard for their badges or traditions.
The official trailer, released in mid-January 2026, has fans buzzing with its pulse-pounding intensity. It opens with Leaphorn tracking a deer in the wilderness, reflecting on the moment when the animal senses its fate—a haunting metaphor for the dangers ahead. Viewers see the team discovering bloody scenes, reuniting with Manuelito after her time away, and diving headfirst into the city’s dangers. The footage teases explosive confrontations, shadowy figures, and a relentless pursuit that tests every ounce of their resolve. One chilling line from Leaphorn underscores the stakes: “It’s my job to care about everyone on the reservation… The job isn’t finished.”
Zahn McClarnon, the series’ star and executive producer, returns as the stoic, brilliant Lt. Joe Leaphorn, a veteran officer haunted by personal losses, including the lingering grief over his son’s death and the strain on his marriage to Emma (Deanna Allison). This season marks McClarnon’s television directorial debut on an episode, adding a personal touch to the storytelling. He has expressed excitement about delving deeper into Leaphorn’s character, noting the profound meaning the role holds for him and the cast.
Joining the core trio are fresh faces who heighten the tension. Franka Potente (Run Lola Run, The Bourne Supremacy) portrays Irene Vaggan, a terrifying, sociopathic killer whose obsessive drive makes her one of the most formidable antagonists Leaphorn has ever faced. Titus Welliver (Bosch) plays Dominic McNair, a ruthless Los Angeles crime boss entangled in drugs, stolen goods, and far-reaching schemes. Isabel DeRoy-Olson appears as Billie Tsosie, the resourceful Navajo teenager whose quest for freedom lands her in mortal peril. Chaske Spencer takes on the role of Sonny, a charismatic yet menacing recruiter who lures young people from the reservation into the city’s criminal web. Luke Barnett portrays FBI Special Agent Toby Shaw, while A. Martinez reprises his recurring role as Acting Chief Gordo Sena.
The season draws inspiration from Hillerman’s novel The Ghostway, incorporating themes of cultural disconnection, spiritual reckoning, and the lingering effects of historical traumas like boarding school experiences. Yet the showrunners—creator Graham Roland and showrunner John Wirth—continue to take creative liberties, weaving in the emotional aftermath of prior seasons. Chee and Manuelito’s budding romance faces new pressures in the unfamiliar urban environment, while Leaphorn grapples with his unraveling personal life and the ghosts of his past.
What makes Season 4 particularly shocking is its darker, bigger scope. Previous seasons thrived on the atmospheric isolation of the Southwest, but venturing into 1970s Los Angeles—complete with its era-specific grit, moral ambiguity, and explosive crime underworld—amplifies the stakes exponentially. The trailer hints at multiple bloody discoveries, high-speed chases, and moments where the team feels truly out of their element, facing threats that demand every skill they possess.
Executive produced by the late Robert Redford (in his final credit) and George R.R. Martin, Dark Winds has become a standout for its respectful portrayal of Navajo culture, authentic representation, and masterful blend of procedural mystery with profound character drama. Filmed in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the production captures the visual contrast between the reservation’s stark beauty and the city’s chaotic energy.
As the countdown to February 15 begins, fans are already calling this the series’ most explosive chapter yet. With Leaphorn stepping into uncharted danger, the question lingers: will the team emerge unchanged, or will the shadows of Los Angeles claim them forever? One thing is certain—this season will redefine what Dark Winds can be, delivering the noir intensity, cultural depth, and heart-stopping suspense that have made it a must-watch phenomenon.
