TV titanTaylor Sheridancontinuedhis Hollywood takeoverwhen he wrote and directed the critically-acclaimed 2017 neo-Western crime filmWind River, which features the talents of Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen and follows the duo as they investigate the shocking murder of a young woman on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. Both a critical and commercial triumph,Wind Riverwas the recipient of numerous accolades and was named one of the Top Ten Independent Films of the year by the National Board of Review.
Due to the overwhelming success of the original movie, a sequel was officially announced to be in the works in 2022, with Kari Skogland (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) taking over the reins as director from Sheridan forWind River: The Next Chapter. The sequel will have Martin Sensmeier and Gil Birmingham reprising their roles from the first film, and they will be joined by some familiar faces that are sure to excite fans; let’s take a look at everything we know so far aboutWind River: The Next Chapter.
Who Is Starring in ‘Wind River: The Next Chapter’?
Despite headlining the acclaimed 2017 neo-Western,Marvel superstarsJeremy Rennerand Elizabeth Olsen will not be reprising their respective rolesas U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Agent Cory Lambert and FBI Special Agent Jane Banner forWind River: The Next Chapter.However,there are two actors from the original hit who will be returning for the sequel: Martin Sensmeier and Gil Birmingham. After previously appearing in both the Sheridan TV staplesYellowstoneand1883,as well asWestworld,Sensmeier will be back as Chip Hanson forThe Next Chapter, with his character now a newly minted tracker like Renner’s Lambert.
Hollywood veteran Birmingham is also returning as Martin Hanson, Chip’s father, who previously helped Lambert and Banner track down his daughter’s killer. The actor is also no stranger to the Sheridan universe, as heappeared inHell or High WaterandYellowstoneand had memorable roles inUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Twilight Saga, andX-Men: ‘97. Joining Sensmeier and Birmingham as new characters are Jason Clarke (Oppenheimer, The Devil All the Time) and Scott Eastwood (Wrath of Man), as well as Alan Ruck (Succession), Chaske Spencer (The English), Tatanka Means (Killers of the Flower Moon), and Kali Reis (True Detective: Night Country).
What Is the Premise of the Sequel?
Wind River: The Next Chapterwill pick up a few years after the events of the original film, which followed Agents Lambert and Banner as they investigated the death of 18-year-old Natalie Hanson on the Wind River Indian Reservation after her frozen body was discovered during winter.The sequel will focus on Natalie’s formerly drug-addicted brother Chip (Sensmeier), who is now a newly minted tracker for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and is enlisted by the FBI to look into a series of gruesome, ritualistic murders on the reservation.
As Chip attempts to pursue justice and hunt down who is responsible for the heinous crimes, he finds himself swept up in a vicious fight between the authorities, the Reservation that is his beloved home, anda mysterious vigilante.The sequel will chronicle Chip’s efforts to keep his community safe as terror escalates and his loyalties are ultimately tested, with tensions rising as the determined tracker takes on dangerous threats.
Is Taylor Sheridan Involved in ‘Wind River: The Next Chapter’?
Though TV titan Taylor Sheridan both directed and penned the screenplay for 2017’sWind River,for which he received numerous accolades, including the Un Certain Regard for Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival,he will not be participating in the follow-up. Sheridan was inspired to write the film to raise awareness about the issue of the high number of Indigenous women who are victims of sexual assault and/or murder,with Sheridan statingof the Western’s premise, “It’s based on thousands of actual stories just like it.”
Instead,Wind River: The Next Chapterwill be helmed by Kari Skogland (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) while the screenplay was written by Patrick Massett and his writing partner John Zinman (Friday Night Lights, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider). Skogland has an illustrious small-screen resume and has also directed episodes of hit shows likeBoardwalk Empire, The Walking Dead, The Punisher, andThe Handmaid’s Tale.Though Sheridan may be absent for the sequel, it sure seems as thoughWind River: The Next Chapteris in extremely capable hands.
When Will the Movie Debut in Theaters?
Wind River: The Next Chapterwas officially announced to be in the works in November 2022, and principal photography took place between March 15 and June 29, 2025, in Calgary, Alberta. As of now,the sequel does not have a scheduled premiere datedespite production having wrapped over two years ago. In January 2025, one of its stars, Kali Reis, revealed what little she knew about the impending release of the film while attending the Sundance Film Festival:
“You know just as much as I do, unfortunately. I am really excited about Wind River 2, as well. So just keep your eye out for it, and I can’t wait to share it with the world.”
