Dark Winds Season 4 Villain’s “Obsession” With Leaphorn Teased By Zahn McClarnon

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In season four of Dark Winds, Joe Leaphorn faces numerous threats, including a particularly fixated new enemy.

Season 4 of Dark Winds continues the show’s perfect record of 100% critic approval on Rotten Tomatoes. The new season begins right after the events of the season 3 finale, where Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) faced personal and professional turmoil. He’s still grappling with the aftermath of the FBI investigation into B.J. Vines’ death, and his wife, Emma, hasn’t returned or forgiven him. As he tries to win her back, Leaphorn also begins to think about the future and considers Bernadette (Jessica Matten) as a possible successor.

Season 4 of Dark Winds is based on Tony Hillerman’s novel The Ghostway and continues the story of Navajo Tribal Police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. This season, they investigate a violent shooting at a diner and the disappearance of a young woman. Adding to the challenges, crime originating in Los Angeles starts spilling into their jurisdiction in the Four Corners area, bringing them face-to-face with a dangerous criminal leader.

To celebrate the return of Dark Winds, Tatiana Hullender from ScreenRant spoke with Zahn McClarnon about season 4. McClarnon, who is also an executive producer and star on the show, shared details about a major new villain, why this villain is so interested in Leaphorn, his excitement about the actor cast in the role, and his experience directing episode 2.

McClarnon Was Fanning Out Over Franka Potente’s Casting For Season 4

Michael Moriatis/AMC

Similar to season 2, the fourth season of Dark Winds is changing how it adapts Tony Hillerman’s books. This time, the season mainly focuses on the story of Chee, rather than Leaphorn. However, the writers have still included Leaphorn (played by Zahn McClarnon) through a connection to Irene Vaggan, an assassin searching for Billie Tsosie, a runaway teen, and creating problems near Leaphorn’s area.

I was so excited when I heard Franka Potente – you know, from the Bourne movies – was cast as Irene! I’m a huge fan. I actually grew up watching Run Lola Run, and I totally had a crush on her back when that film came out in ’98. It was a really cool moment to learn she was involved.

According to McClarnon, Irene will be a powerful opponent for Joe in season 4 of Dark Winds. He hints at a lot of conflict between them, and reveals that Irene appears to be strangely fixated on Joe, leading to a suspenseful chase throughout the entire season.

Zahn McClarnon described Irene’s character as teasing him all season, but praised Franka, the actress who plays her, as a genuinely lovely person and a talented performer. He was impressed by her insightful approach to the role, her clear vision for her character, and her proactive nature. He really enjoyed working with her, emphasizing how important it is for actors to have good chemistry and have fun on set. He feels lucky to have collaborated with someone with so much talent.

McClarnon “Didn’t Have Many Aspirations To Direct” Prior To Dark Winds Season 4

Zahn McClarnon has spent over three decades as an actor, collaborating with many well-known directors and writers, including Lisa Joy and Jonah Nolan on Westworld and Mike Flanagan on Doctor Sleep. Despite this wealth of experience, he surprisingly admits he didn’t have a lot of specific influences when directing episodes of Dark Winds season 4.

Michael McClarnon, who prioritizes acting, surprisingly found himself directing. He initially believed directing was something he’d never do, which is why he couldn’t resist the opportunity when AMC offered it to him. While admitting he was nervous about making his directorial debut, he felt his 30 years of experience in the industry gave him a solid understanding of how things work.

Directing an episode was intimidating, especially handling the shot list and making sure my vision came through. I purposely directed the second episode first to give myself enough time to prepare. As the lead actor, I usually don’t have time for that kind of prep work. It took a lot of meetings to establish the right mood and plan the shots, and working closely with the cinematographer was key. Luckily, I had an amazing team – Chris Eyre, Jim Chory, showrunner John Wirth, and cinematographer Blake Evans. My first assistant director, Dennis Crow, and executive producer Tina Elmo were also incredibly supportive. It was a truly collaborative process, and so many people helped make it a great experience.

Be sure to check out some of our other Dark Winds season 4 coverage with:

  • John Wirth on why Dark Winds season 4 was the trickiest for adapting its books
  • Wirth on why season 4 gives Bernadette and Chee an official romance
  • Wirth on Leaphorn’s marital problems in season 4 and how they will evolve
  • Zahn McClarnon on why Dark Winds can never fully adapt the Leaphorn and Chee novels
  • McClarnon on the truth behind Leaphorn’s apparent retirement plans

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2026-02-24 01:53