Dark Winds: New Western noir series will bring much-needed representation

AMC announced last week that their new series Dark Winds would be debuting on their network in 2022. It will center on two Navajo policemen in the early ’70s as they try to solve a grisly murder that makes them question their beliefs and experiences with trauma.

The television show will be based on a long-running book series by Tony Hillerman, known as the “Navajo Police Tribe” mystery novels. Hillerman grew up in the Pottawatomie County region in Oklahoma, going to school with the native Potawatomie children. This gave the author an interesting voice but he was never indigenous.

Just as the white man wrote the novels, now a bunch of white men will be producing the series as well. George R. R. Martin and Robert Redford will executively produce the series along with Tina Elmo and Vince Gerardis plus Graham Roland creating and executive producing the upcoming show. Vince Calandra will be the showrunner and executive producer while Chris Eyre will direct the pilot and also executive produce.

The only Native voice in the production team (listed so far) is Zahn McClarnon (Fargo), who is also starring in it. While it’s wonderful that we’re getting more representation for Native people, there need to be a whole lot more Native creatives involved in the stories pop cultures tells about them. It’s 2021, Hollywood, can’t we do any better?

There is a bright side, however. Apparently the writers’ room is made up “entirely by Native American writers“, and it is “filmed largely in and around Native American lands, with the full support and blessing of The Navajo Nation”. So thankfully it’s not a complete bust.

McClarnon is excited about the series and being a part of making it, saying in a statement:

"I am honored to be asked to star as the lead in this innovative series for AMC and to Executive produce. To have the support and to be a part of a team which is led by two iconic visionaries as George R.R. Martin and Robert Redford is something to which I’ve always aspired. I believe as Indigenous people we are in a new era of progress in TV and film representation."

Since this isn’t the first time Dark Winds has been brought to the screen, they have the opportunity to give a significant voice to the Indigenous people and let them tell their story. We can only hope to improve from here.

Here’s the official synopsis:

"Dark Winds, which has received a six-episode order, is a psychological thriller that follows two Navajo police officers, Leephorn and Chee, in the 1970s Southwest as their search for clues in a grisly double murder case forces them to challenge their own spiritual beliefs and come to terms with the trauma of their pasts. Season 1 is expected to premiere on AMC+ and AMC in 2022."

What do you think of the news? Are you looking forward to this show or are you apprehensive? Let us know in the comments below!