Sicario 3 is reportedly moving forward with original stars Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, and Benicio del Toro signed on to return. The film has been in development for years, but reports suggest it has gained momentum.
Josh Brolin had indicated earlier this summer that a third Sicario film was imminent, though he did not provide specific details at the time. Now, sources indicate that the film has secured its main cast, a director, and a writer. Padraic McKinley, who most recently directed the Ethan Hawke drama The Weight, is slated to direct. McKinley, an editor-turned-director with two prior films, will helm the project from a script by Steven Knight, known for creating Peaky Blinders and writing the next James Bond film.
The three lead actors reportedly committed to the third installment after reviewing the script. The script is currently undergoing edits based on feedback from Blunt, Brolin, and del Toro. The actors were also involved in interviewing potential directors before selecting McKinley.
The production team is currently in the process of presenting the project to various studios. Taylor Sheridan, who wrote the first two Sicario films, has no stated involvement as a writer for Sicario 3, though his continued role as a producer is presumed. Sheridan's current commitments to numerous television shows and films, including a Call of Duty movie, may have limited his availability for writing the new Sicario installment.
Emily Blunt's return is notable, as her character did not appear in Sicario: Day of the Soldado. Her perceived arc completion in the first film made her absence understandable, though some critics felt it diminished the sequel's narrative depth compared to the original. Blunt's participation could potentially restore a key element of the franchise's complex dynamic.
A release date for Sicario 3 has not yet been announced, but the project appears to be progressing rapidly.