"Landed a home at AMC": When Dark Winds lead Zahn McClarnon opened up about working as actor and EP for the psychological thriller 

Zahn McClarnon starrer Dark Winds took very little time in becoming one of the acclaimed AMC TV series, and now fans are enjoying its third chapter. The psychological crime thriller is set in the American Southwest during the 1970s with a focus on three officers from the Navajo Tribal Police.

The TV series follows Tony Hillerman’s popular Leaphorn & Chee novels, with Graham Roland as the creator. While McClarnon plays Joe Leaphorn, he's accompanied by Jessica Matten and Kiowa Gordon as Bernadette Manuelito and Jim Chee respectively.

As Dark Winds begins, these officers are tasked with finding out the truth behind several unsettling criminal cases. Additionally, the isolated location adds to the suspense, as the characters deal not only with criminals but also with internal conflicts and spiritual dilemmas.

Zahn McClarnon has been widely praised for his role in Dark Winds, and the actor himself felt grateful to be a part of such a huge project. During one of his interviews, McClarnon said:

"George [R.R. Martin] and Robert Redford have been working on this for quite a few decades, now we finally landed a home at AMC..."

He continued:

" I was approached by George R.R. Martin, Tina Elmo, Vince Gerardis, and Chris Eyre who's a close friend of mine..."

McClarnon explained that he's close friends with Chris Eyre who asked him to play Joe and serve as the EP of Dark Winds. The actor mentioned being "thrilled" to join a "prestigious team" as he also knew Tony Hillerman and had read a few of his books.

Keep reading to learn more about the actor's insights about his show.

Zahn McClarnon talks about being an actor and EP for AMC's Dark Winds

Actor Zahn McClarnon took on the leading role of Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, who teams up with his newly assigned deputy, Jim Chee. These officers are connected to cultural themes and often wrestle with their own beliefs as they investigate various crimes.

In the same interview shared by Screen Realm, McClarnon shed light on his roles as a cast member and EP of Dark Winds. The actor admitted that it has been nerve-wracking as it takes a lot to make a hit TV show. He said:

"It takes a lot of focus and a lot of drive.... It takes over your life for a few months... But I was up for the task and I'm happy with the results."

McClaron mentioned putting in efforts for about six months to craft the show. He was also asked about balancing his two responsibilities, to which the Dark Winds actor said:

"They asked me in the beginning how much I wanted to be involved, and the more I got involved, the more I wanted to be involved... Especially because I'm familiar with the pool of actors and the talent that we have out there..."

Zahn McClarnon mentioned working with several native actors and also being close to the casting director of Dark Winds. He also mentioned the supportive team around him, which was one of the reasons McClarnon could focus on his job.

The No Hard Feelings star was then asked if he has something in common with Joe, and McClarnon responded by sharing his own life experiences. The actor translated his own "loss and tragedy" to Joe and he was also familiar with some of the cultural aspects of the Navajo community since a young age.

Trending

Also Read: Dark Winds Season 3 has two unexpected cameos with a cheeky reference to Game of Thrones delay

Keep exploring SoapCentral for regular updates on TV series, films, and more!

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback