Latest news with #ZahnMcClarnon
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Dark Winds' Star Zahn McClarnon: 'I've Learned More in the Last Four Seasons Than in 30 Years'
Zahn McClarnon has been a film and TV actor for more than 30 years, and in that time, he's often played, as he puts it, 'the bad guy or Indian No. 1 over here by the tipi.' He went on to be featured in a succession of popular shows, including Longmire, Westworld and Fargo, as well as playing the quirky police officer (and Big Foot enthusiast) Big on FX's Reservation Dogs. So when George R.R. Martin and Robert Redford called him a few years ago asking him to be No. 1 on the call sheet for AMC's '70s-set Navajo detective series Dark Winds, there was no hesitation. What followed was a learning experience that surpassed anything he had done before, culminating in his upcoming directing debut in season four. The recently released third season saw McClarnon go deep into his character's past, uncovering repressed traumas that mirror experiences in McClarnon's own life, all while Joe Leaphorn tried to stop a murderer and reconcile his own morally questionable role in an earlier death. More from The Hollywood Reporter Jessica Biel, Meghann Fahy, Rashida Jones Dissect Their Characters' Complicated Emotions and the Challenges of Performing in Water 'Good Mythical Morning' Duo Rhett and Link Answer Five Burning Questions Grammys Reveal Key Dates for 2026 Awards, Unveil New Rules and Categories As we ease into Emmy season, the veteran actor hopped on a Zoom with THR to discuss the cultural strides that have been made, the role that he finds both hugely challenging and hugely rewarding, and how he untethers himself from his character at the end of the day. Joe Leaphorn is a complex character — he's got a lot of trauma and loss in his past, yet he's a mentor, leader and husband, too. What was it that originally drew you to playing him, and what are the things that excite you most as he continues to evolve? [Executive producers] Chris Eyre, Tina Elmo and George R.R. Martin came to me and asked if I wanted to be part of the show, and I was familiar with the Hillerman books [on which Dark Winds is based]. I'd read quite a few of them and I've read more since I started the show, but I was very familiar with Hillerman growing up and Chris Eyre is an old friend of mine. Just being part of a team with George R.R. Martin and Robert Redford is very exciting to me. Joe Leaphorn is already pretty much a fleshed-out character throughout the books, so it wasn't an easy task, but the foundation was already set for Joe and I just had to bring my own version of the characteristics he has. Just to be No. 1 [on the call sheet of a TV show] is a dream come true for an actor. I've been in the business for a long time, and these kinds of opportunities don't come along — especially for somebody like me, because I'm not the typical leading man. So, I jumped at the opportunity, and I've become very close to my new family in the last four seasons. And what I like about Joe Leaphorn and how he's changing is that he's got a lot going on and he's been through a lot, and to be able to explore those aspects of a character are a dream for any actor in this business. I recentlyand he pointed out how rare it is for a Native couple like Joe and his wife, Emma (Deanna Allison), to have their relationship shown in all its three-dimensionality. How do you feel about that relationship? We all grew up with the stereotypes, and we just have not seen these kinds of relationships with Native people on television, ever. To be able, as an actor, to explore being in a relationship as a Native man, I've never had an opportunity to do that before. So people are seeing different parts of our culture and of the Navajo culture and seeing these characters from a different perspective because we have the Native writing room and Native directors, Native producers, Native crew people. I've just had a wonderful time being on the show and we hope to keep going with it. And you're already in production on season four. We are. We're getting down to the last two episodes now. I understand you're making your directing debut this upcoming season. Have you gotten to work on that episode yet? Yeah, we've shot my episode, which is episode two. We shot that first so I had time to prep, because otherwise I wouldn't have time to prep being in almost every scene. It was a great experience. And I have wonderful people to learn from: [executive producers] Jim Chory, Tina Elmo, [dialogue coach] Rob Tepper, Chris Eyre, a great DP in Blake Evans and Dennis Crow is my first AD. I can take that and put it under my belt and maybe do it again, we'll see what happens. Why did you feel it was important or appealing to take on these additional roles of executive producing and directing at this point in your career? They asked me to be an EP on the show, they offered that to me, and to be able to have the opportunity to sit in all the production meetings and help with casting and give notes on scripts and edits of the episodes is brand new for me and it's been a wonderful learning experience. I've learned so much being on Dark Winds for the last four seasons, more than I've learned in the previous 30 years of being an actor, because you are completely involved in all aspects of production. And as far as directing, AMC asked me if I wanted to direct in the fourth season and I can't pass up an opportunity like that. It scared the heck out of me, it really did, being the number one [on the call sheet] and trying to direct. And I never had really any aspirations to direct, so when they asked me, it was just a huge learning opportunity for me to expand my horizons in this business. I've got a great team, and I knew that I wasn't going to fail with this team around me. The episode turned out really good, the story's being told and most importantly, AMC liked it. (Laughs.) So maybe we'll do it again, we'll see what happens. Looking back, did you have a favorite moment from season three? As an actor, you don't [often] get to be part of a character or show that develops over four seasons. It's not like a movie where you do this character for three months and you're done; I've been doing it now for four seasons, so those moments of realization were pretty special for me in season three. My character falling in love with his wife is a pretty special moment. And again, you rarely see that [with Native characters] on television. There was also some really tough content in season three. Was there an aspect of the season that was most challenging for you? The whole season was. It's a continued exploration of the tragedy that befell the Leaphorn family and the son's death and the consequences that come from that into what Joe Leaphorn did and his actions last season, and how it affects him mentally and his marriage with Emma. Just the struggle with guilt and the moral gray areas he's found himself in, the questioning of his decisions in season two with B.J. Vines: Did he really murder B.J. Vines or did he just leave B.J. Vines in the desert to fend for himself? Is that murder? Those choices have [led] him to a lot of fear and anxiety throughout the season, but also it's a growth season, more about self-understanding and healing and going back into his past and reconciling those traumatic events that affected him and his loved ones. It was a challenging season, but it's [also] fun to dive deep into those psychological issues that any character has and we've got a good writing team. You've said this season was cathartic for you as you tapped into experiences and traumas from your own past, which were similar to the relating to Joe's cousin when they were younger. What did that process entail for you? Great directors helped me through all that and just created a safe environment, along with my first ADs. We closed down some of the sets with only the camera people, the first AD and the actors. And I've got a great team around me that allowed me to be vulnerable and be in those moments. Yeah, I've had some past history with some very similar events in my life, so it's pretty easy to tap into a lot of that … trauma? Sure, I've dealt with a lot of stuff throughout my life and one of the things I enjoy about acting is to tap into that stuff and make it real, because if it's not real and not honest, it shows up on the camera. I could relate to a lot of what Joe had gone through, and it was cathartic. But mainly it was the environment, the trust of the people around me, that [allowed me] to be vulnerable and [still] feel safe. When you're dealing with such difficult, emotional content, how does it impact you? Do you find you take it home with you? There was a moment in season three that — I wish I could articulate this — the lines became blurred. As actors we have to make things real, they have to feel real in my body and I have to feel like I'm in that situation. So, you do find yourself in moments where it's very real, and the whole environment makes it [feel even] more real. We've got great production designers that make it feel like the '70s, and you have the dialogue and the script, so you get to [these] moments where you really feel like you're in that situation. And that's what we all strive for as actors. Again, I had this great team around me, so when I'm off the set and I'm still feeling that, I can go talk to them about it. Tina Elmo helped me out with that a lot, she held my hand or she hugged me. We talk through it, and then you come out of it. I think the main thing is the focus, that's what I have a hard time with. You're working a job for four months, and you're in it every day for 14 hours a day. It's that focus that the job requires, and it's hard to get out of. When the job is over, what do you do with all that focus? That's what I struggle with. So, what do you do? I've found things to help me with it, like taking off on a motorcycle for a month or going and hanging out with my mom or just driving in the car. I love driving, and I'll drive for a few days and go up and see my mom, and it helps me deal with losing all that focus, where I can replace it with somebody I love. I find different tools to deal with being that focused for so long and then dropping out of it immediately. And you know, they're healthy tools. (Laughs.) Back in the day, 25 years ago, I unfortunately had unhealthy ways to deal with some of that stuff. Today, it's healthy. That's important. By the way, what kind of motorcycle do you ride? I've got a couple bikes. I had four and I just got rid of a couple but they're all Harleys. I might be changing to a BMW GS, like a dual sport where I can do a little bit more gravel road, off-road, elastic stuff. Emmy nominations are coming, and you could be nominated. In recent years, several other Native actors have been. I wonder if you feel like that win is coming soon for a Native actor, and what it would mean to you? Oh, I think somebody's going to. We've got such great talent out there — D'Pharoah [Woon-A-Tai] was nominated last year for Rez Dogs, and Lily [Gladstone] came really close to winning the Academy Award. And we've got more content coming out. Sierra Ornelas just did a pilot for NBC, it's a Native comedy. We've just got too much talent out there for somebody not to get nominated or hopefully win one of those awards. And to be recognized by your community is a pretty cool thing. But we'll see what happens. Just to be in the conversation, to be honest with you, having a billboard or having people interviewing you, that's enough for me, it really is. People are recognizing the work you do. Speaking of , you also played on a police officer on that show. Do you have a special affinity for those characters? No, they just keep asking me to do them. (Laughs.) None of my family were in law enforcement or anything like that. I've learned quite a bit. On Longmire, I was a cop, too. And I did a film called The Silencing up in Canada with [Game of Thrones' Nikolaj Coster-Waldau], where I played a cop. I just get cast as cops. I'm this little 5-foot-6-inch guy, it doesn't make sense to me, but I guess it's because I have (in a deep voice) a strong presence. (Laughs.) I'm not going to say no, though! Any last thoughts before I leave you? We're not a documentary but it's an opportunity to reeducate people about [Navajo] culture and the values of that culture and it can lead to people getting more involved politically [because they get] to peek into a different culture. And it's a beautiful thing to be part of a television show that's also opening doors for Native talent. That's important to me. If I walk away from this business, I can say I was involved with something that did open these doors for Native writers, Native directors, Native producers, Native crew people. It's so difficult to get your foot into this business, and we've given a lot of Native people a foothold and something to put on their résumé — even myself as a first-time director. It's just a wonderful thing that AMC is backing and getting behind it and I'm very, very grateful for it. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Emmy Voters: Don't Forget About Zahn McClarnon and ‘Dark Winds': He's Your Next Leading Man
The third season of 'Dark Winds' might be one of its best yet. In the latest season, Zahn McClarnon's Joe Leaphorn is tracking down a missing Native teenager who goes missing after his friend is murdered. At home, his wife Emma (Deanna Allison) is struggling to forgive him and decides to leave. Amid it all, Leaphorn is facing generational trauma and confronting his past. More from Variety Short and Sweet: From 'Adolescence' to 'Sirens,' This Season's Best New Shows Are Barely Longer Than a Movie Limited Series Writers on the Impact of Casting, Writing Emotional Journeys, and Finding a Tonal Balance David E. Kelley on Shaping 'Presumed Innocent' With Ruth Negga's Barbara as the Killer - Then Changing the Ending After Filming Began Although the show has largely gone unrecognized by Emmy voters, there's still time to consider the AMC thriller and McClarnon's performance when it comes to drama categories. Take episode 6, which revolves around a ketamine fever dream that sees Joe transported back in time, threading together three narrative threads: the traditional Navajo story of the Hero Twins facing the Ye'iitsoh; Joe's present-day confrontation with a monster that's been haunting him throughout Season 3; and the revelation of a deeply personal childhood trauma. McClarnon says it was satisfying to explore that aspect of the character. 'I find it cathartic to tap into some of that stuff that I went through as a kid, which was very similar. I enjoy that process as an actor and that's why I wanted to be an actor,' he said at an FYC panel and a later interview. The actor, who is Hunkpapa Lakota, knew how authenticity was important to the creative team and showrunners. And for certain scenes, he had to learn Diné, the Navajo language. Cultural consultants on the show helped ensure the pronunciation was correct, but it wasn't easy. McClarnon says it would often take a few weeks 'to learn a couple of lines.' Though McClarnon is always reserved, his performance in this season particularly is also filled with emotion. In the season finale, his eyes tell the story as he sits there wordless with his world falling apart, and he learns of Emma's feelings towards him. McClarnon has led 'Dark Winds' for three seasons. In season four, he'll get to direct. Yet, he doesn't consider himself a leading man. 'I don't,' he replies when asked about it. 'I know that I can be number one on a TV show. I can be an EP and direct at the same time. I have that skill,' he says. McClarnon, who starred in the 2005 TNT series, 'Into the West' and later in 2009's 'Not Forgotten' is overdue for lead awards attention. His performance as Joe Leaphorn has proven he can carry a series, with the complexity to peel back the layers. Though he starred in 'Reservation Dogs,' which had comedic elements, he's not sure about taking on a rom-com. He laughs, 'I don't know if I can be a romantic comedy leading man.' But McClarnon won't rule it out. 'We'll see what happens,' he says. Television Academy voters, it's your move to spotlight McClarnon and show him he's got everything it takes to lead the way. Best of Variety 'Blue Velvet,' 'Chinatown' and 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' Arrive on 4K in June All the Godzilla Movies Ranked 'House of the Dragon': Every Character and What You Need to Know About the 'Game of Thrones' Prequel
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
When Does ‘Dark Winds' Return With New Episodes? ‘Dark Winds' Season 4 Info
Looking to catch up on AMC's addictive psychological thriller Dark Winds? Decider's here to help. If you're a Netflix subscriber, the first two seasons are now available on the streaming giant. If you have a cable login or AMC+ subscription, you can watch all three seasons on AMC's website while you wait for the fourth installment to drop. You can also add AMC+ to your Prime Video account for an additional $6.99/month. The best part? Amazon offers a seven-day free trial for new and eligible subscribers. What does the future hold for Dark Winds? When can you expect to see new episodes on AMC? Here's everything you need to know. The third season consists of eight episodes. Nope. The Season 3 finale premiered April 27 on AMC. National Treasure: Book of Secrets airs from 6:00-9:00 p.m. ET, followed by a new episode of The Walking Dead: Dead City at 9:00 p.m. ET. You bet! Back in February, AMC renewed Dark Winds for a fourth season. The season will consist of eight episodes, and production has already started in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 'I'm looking forward to exploring and inhabiting the character of Joe Leaphorn once again in Season 4, and I'm excited to make my directorial debut on a show that means so much to me,' Zahn McClarnon said in a statement. 'I'd like to send my gratitude and appreciation to Kristin Dolan, Dan McDermott, and all of the hard-working folks at AMC Networks for their support and commitment to Dark Winds. And of course, I'm most thrilled to be spending time with this wonderful cast and crew whom I have grown to love.' The new season is scheduled to debut in 2026 on AMC and AMC+. If you have a valid cable login, you can stream Season 3 of Dark Winds on the AMC website. All three seasons of Dark Winds are also available on AMC+, which you can purchase for $6.99/month. An ad-free option is also available for $95.88/year. You can sample the service with a seven-day free trial. You can also add AMC+ to your Sling TV, YouTube TV, or Philo accounts. Finally, the first two seasons of Dark Winds are available to watch on Netflix. The first two seasons of Dark Winds premiered in August 2024 on Netflix. While there's no official information regarding if/when Season 3 will be added to the streamer, the new episodes won't be on Netflix anytime soon. The second season finale aired on September 3, 2023, before finding its way to Netflix almost a year later. Again, we have no official info, but if the third season does find its way to Netflix, it probably won't be until 2026. Yes! You can add AMC+ to your Prime Video account for an additional $6.99/month. Amazon offers a free trial for new subscribers.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Dark Winds' Season 4 in the works as AMC shares when and what to expect
' Dark Winds ' has managed to create a long list of fans ever since its release. Fans have been waiting and buzzing for the much-awaited 'Dark Winds' season 4 premiere, though it seems that they won't have to for much longer. 'Dark Winds' Season 4 confirmation given The season 3 finale for 'Dark Winds' was already a much-awaited premiere for most. To add on to the good news, the production studio of the show has officially announced that the show will be back for another season, as per reports shared by The Decider. They confirmed that the show has been confirmed and renewed for season 4. The filming for this new season has also commenced from earlier this year in Santa Fe, New Mexico, exciting fans even further. The representatives from the hosting platform have also shared another crucial detail that the fans will be very happy to know about. The 'Dark Winds' season 4 will feature yet again 8 episodes and is set to release in 2026. Cast share excitement about new season In the same report, lead actor and character of the show Zahn McClarnon shared his excitement for the new season of 'Dark Winds' and all that he is looking forward to. He shared that "I'm looking forward to exploring and inhabiting the character of Joe Leaphorn once again in Season 4.' Not only that, but McClarnon also shared that the next season of 'Dark Winds' will also mark his directorial debut in the cinematic industry. He shared that "I'm excited to make my directorial debut on a show that means so much to me, and I'm grateful to AMC Networks for their unwavering support." President Dan McDermott shares insights about the future of the show In an interview that the president of the production studios and network did in February this year, he shared his expectations from the show and how it came to be. He said, 'When we greenlit the first season of Dark Winds, we saw the potential for an authentic and long-running franchise that could live alongside the worlds we were building around The Walking Dead and Anne Rice,' as shared by Sportskeeda. The president also cited that the show has stood up to its expectations, all thanks to the cast members and the producing team. He shared, 'That is exactly what this cast and creative team delivered, and the fans have responded. It starts with Tony Hillerman's unforgettable novels, cared for and attended to by a producing team that includes the likes of Robert Redford, George R. R. Martin, Chris Eyre and our showrunner John Wirth, and – at the centre of everything – the truly extraordinary Zahn McClarnon and the entire cast.' Dan also expanded on the fact that upon its release, the series was well-received by the public, and the up-and-coming seasons of 'Dark Winds' have a lot more to show. He stated that 'Fans have embraced this series on AMC/AMC+ and made it a top 10 show on Netflix for a solid month last fall. There is so much great storytelling yet to come in these expanded third and fourth seasons.' The 'Dark Winds' season 3 finale episode The much-awaited final episode of the show's third season was aired on AMC+. The finale episode plays a pivotal role in defining the overall series. Titled 'Béésh Łį́į́" or 'Iron Horse', the season finale will see major events occurring that will also include a high-stakes situation. The episode will show Bernadette struggling with a life-or-death situation while Leaphorn and Chee use all their might to officially solve the case. About 'Dark Winds' The thrilling show 'Dark Winds' is heavily adapted from the renowned novels of Leaphorn and Chee by Tony Hillerman. The series features the story of 3 Navajo Tribal Police officers, namely Joe Leaphorn, Bernadette Manuelito, and Jim Chee, as they go about solving crimes and cases. Dark Winds Season 3 | Official Trailer ft. Zahn McClarnon | Premieres March 9 | AMC+
Chicago Tribune
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
‘Dark Winds' review: In Season 3, a dark night of the soul for Lt. Leaphorn
It can be thrilling to watch an actor who understands that showy performances aren't all they're cracked up to be. That smaller, more nuanced choices can hold the screen with just as much magnetism. Sometimes even more. That's always been one of Zahn McClarnon's underrated strengths, and after a long career of standout supporting roles on 'Westworld,' 'Fargo' and 'Longmire,' he has rightfully assumed his place as a leading man playing Lt. Joe Leaphorn on AMC's 'Dark Winds,' back for a third season. The 1970s-set police procedural, based on the crime novels by Tony Hillerman, is also a moody and atmospheric psychological thriller that takes advantage of its dusty Southwest setting. The Navajo Tribal Police are called out to one such barren location, where a boy's bloody bicycle has been found. What happened? As Leaphorn tries to find out, his efforts are complicated by the arrival of an FBI agent (Jenna Elfman) who can barely hide her condescension when she tells him, 'I'm just here to button up a few open cases on the reservation.' But Leaphorn has other distractions as well. His marriage is becoming increasingly strained thanks to a skeleton in his closet — or more literally, a body in the desert — that threatens to come out. There's a terrible memory from his childhood that refuses to stay buried, as well. All of this comes to a head on a dark night of the soul that is foreshadowed in the season's opening moments. David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' plays as the camera slowly pans through the darkness, a fallen flashlight providing the only light. And then we see Leaphorn, sprawled on the ground, a dart in his neck. When he's finally able to crawl to his radio, he gasps: 'Send everyone. Now!' The show (created by Graham Roland, with executive producer Robert Redford popping up for blink-or-you'll-miss-it cameo) flashes back one week to the discovery of that bloody bicycle. Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) is Leaphorn's loyal, if sometimes hotheaded, right-hand man. In a parallel storyline, their former colleague Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) is now working several hours away as a Border Control officer, where she's stumbled upon a trafficking operation. Could be people who are being trafficked. Could be drugs. Either way, her supervisor isn't keen to have her investigate for reasons that are murky. Her narrative is the weakest of the season (which draws from two of Hillerman's novels, 'Dance Hall of the Dead' and 'The Sinister Pig'). How does this Diné woman feel about working for an agency enforcing borders that have been involuntarily foisted upon Indigenous people? I wish the show had explored some of those contradictions. But at least it offers this brief observation about police work more generally: 'It's impossible being a law man when our people get the punishment without the protection,' is how someone puts it. Leaphorn is forever trying to keep everyone's tempers in check as he goes about his day. He's driven by curiosity rather than a need to prove his dominance over others. Tonally (and perhaps unexpectedly), 'Dark Winds' has more in common with, and the deliberate pace of, British procedurals than it does your average American cop show. The quiet sounds are tantalizing, of boots walking on dry, rain-parched dirt and gravel, accompanied by the subtle jingle of the police equipment fastened to Leaphorn's work belt. Occasionally, there are moments that verge on ironic humor. A man is suffocated with a plastic bag printed with a smiley face and the words 'Have a nice day.' At one point, when Leaphorn pulls up at work, he sees his wife chatting with that suspicious FBI agent and his spouse cheerfully waves. He just stares back, dreading whatever is in store for him. It's a droll moment. 'You make a new friend?' he asks sarcastically when they're alone. 'Dark Winds' can feel somewhat airless when McClarnon isn't on screen. It's a performance that carries the show, especially with Leaphorn so haunted by his choices. 'When we are visited by monsters,' an elder tells him, 'it's a sign that something is out of balance in our lives.' But a vision from his dead father offers a different point of view: 'There's no such thing as monsters. There's just people who do bad things, and other people who do bad things to stop them.' 'Dark Winds' Season 3 — 2.5 stars (out of 4)
