Yahoo Lifestyle Everything to Know About Those Surprise Cameos in the 'Dark Winds' Season 3 Premiere
Season 3 of Dark Winds premiered last night on AMC, and it did not disappoint! The psychological thriller drama set in 1970s follows three Navajo Tribal Police officers as they solve crimes and murders on tribal lands. Last night's Season 3 premiere offered up some surprising cameos, as actor Robert Redford (The Sting, Sneakers) and author George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire series) appeared on the show as two men playing chess while they sit in a jail cell. We're not sure what crimes they committed, but it was a crime if you missed it!
Dark Winds is based on the "Leaphorn & Chee" series of books written by Tony Hillerman. The Season 3 opener picks up six months after the events of Season 2. It follows Lt. Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) and Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) as they investigate the disappearance of two boys, with only an abandoned bicycle and blood-stained patch of ground left in their wake.
Meanwhile, Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) attempts to settle into her new life 500 miles from home with the Border Patrol, but stumbles across a conspiracy involving human and drug smuggling with far-reaching implications. FBI agent Sylvia Washington (Jenna Elfman) comes to town investigating a case that hits a little too close to home for Leaphorn.
Fun fact: A Martinez, who stars as Sheriff Gordo Sena on Dark Winds has co-starred with McClarnon before. The two were both series regulars on Longmire.
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About halfway through the episode, Leaphorn arrives back at his office, grabs a cup of coffee and heads over to the holding cells where two men are playing a game of chess. A bearded man (Martin) seems to be taking his sweet time deciding on his next move when you hear, "George! The whole world's waiting. Make a move." from his opponent (Redford). Leaphorn looks over the board and suggests to George, "Bishop to King's Rook 5." George looks at the board, utters his delight and makes the move "Checkmate!" he tells his opponent!
Wondering how the production got Redford and Martin to make their cameo appearances on the show? Both serve as executive producers on the series. Redford directed a 1991 movie adaptation called The Dark Wind based on the Tony Hillerman book of the same name. The film starred Lou Diamond Phillips as Chee and Fred Ward as Leaphorn.
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If you missed the episode, you can catch it at amcnetworks.com by putting in your cable or satellite provider or stream it on AMC+ (with subscription). You can also check out the scene below.
Robert Redford is an award-winning actor and director best known for his roles in The Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Way We Were (opposite Barbra Streisand), and All the King's Men and for directing such films as Ordinary People, A River Runs Through It and Quiz Show.
George R.R. Martin is the author of the fantasy series of books, The Song of Ice and Fire, which was adapted into the wildly popular Game of Thrones television show as well as its prequel series, House of the Dragon.
Check out a clip of Redford and Martin's cameo below. Dark Winds airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.
