Dark Winds Season 5 Is Officially Bringing Back Important Character After 4 Years

A familiar face returns to George R.R. Martin’s Dark Winds.

Set in the 1970s, Dark Winds is a crime drama that follows Navajo tribal police officers Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) and Deputy Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) as they solve a string of criminal cases that are linked to one another. The series also stars Jessica Matten (Bernadette Manuelito) and Deanna Allison (Emma Leaphorn).

Dark Winds season 5 is bringing back Alice Benally, who is portrayed by Geraldine Keams. While she was introduced in the popular AMC show’s first season, her initial run was short-lived as she left after the third episode. However, an exclusive report from Deadline has confirmed that she will be returning as a recurring character, which implies that she will play a much bigger role.

Keams’ character, Alice, is the grandmother of Anna Atcitty (Shawnee Pourier). After her granddaughter was murdered in Dark Winds season 1, she can be seen grieving with the rest of her family. Her appearance could mean that the storyline from the show’s debut season could resurface and be further explored.

Along with the return of Keams, Dark Winds season 5 will also feature several new actors. John Hoogenakker (Sheriff Mark Bishop) and Gregory Cruz (Ed Manuelito) are both joining the cast for the upcoming installment. While Hoogenakker will be a series regular, Cruz will appear in a recurring role.

Dark Winds is inspired by author Tony Hillerman’s critically acclaimed Leaphorn & Chee novels. The show is considered by many to be a faithful adaptation of the books. Each season of the AMC series is based on a specific novel in the series. The first installment is adapted from Listening Woman, while the second is based on People of Darkness. However, Dark Winds season combined two of the books, Dance Hall of the Dead and The Sinister Pig. And, season 4 takes inspiration from The Ghostway.

There is no official release date for Dark Winds season 5 at the time of this article’s publication. However, AMC has confirmed a 2027 release window.