Sicario 3 is officially happening, with original stars Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, and Josh Brolin returning to the crime drama film series. However, the sequel will see creative changes at the top, as a new director and writer are taking the helm, and series creator Taylor Sheridan is reportedly not directly involved.
Steven Knight, known for creating Peaky Blinders and writing films like Eastern Promises and Spencer, will pen the script for Sicario 3. This move comes after Variety reported that Sheridan had written the script, but sources indicate that production companies Black Label Media and Thunder Road are pursuing a different direction with Knight's story.
Padraic McKinley is reportedly attached to direct the threequel. McKinley's directorial credits include the TV series Fightworld and Kingdom, as well as the recent film The Weight.
The original Sicario, directed by Denis Villeneuve, explored the complexities of the U.S. war on drugs along the border. It starred Emily Blunt as FBI agent Kate Macer, who teams up with CIA agent Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and former Mexican prosecutor Alejandro Gillick (Benicio del Toro) to capture a cartel leader. The 2015 film was praised for its tension and cinematography.
Sheridan wrote the 2018 sequel, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, which was directed by Stefano Sollima. While Brolin and del Toro reprised their roles, Blunt did not. The sequel received a less favorable reception both commercially and critically compared to its predecessor.
The third installment, sometimes referred to as Sicario: Capos, has been in development since 2018. While no release date has been set, production companies are reportedly aiming to begin filming in early 2027.