Fans eager for the continuation of the intense Sicario saga have reason to celebrate, as a recent report from The Hollywood Reporter confirms that the core trio — Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, and Josh Brolin — are attached to Sicario 3. Their return brings back the characters of domestic agent Kate Macer, enigmatic operative Alejandro Gillick, and federal agent Matt Graver, respectively, promising to tie together the threads of the acclaimed series.
The development marks a crucial advancement for the sequel, which has faced delays, including the 2023 Hollywood writers' strike. Beyond the returning cast, the project is also solidifying its creative team. Padraic McKinley is slated to direct, taking the helm from previous directors Denis Villeneuve (Sicario) and Stefano Sollima (Sicario: Day of the Soldado). The screenplay will be penned by Steven Knight, known for his work on Peaky Blinders and Locke.
Producer Molly Smith, who oversees Black Label Media alongside her sister Rachel Smith and twin brothers Trent and Thad Luckinbill, expressed enthusiasm for the project in a past interview with The Hollywood Reporter. "We’re very close. It’s one of the projects where we’re ready to put the train on the tracks as soon as the strike ends and our path is cleared," Smith stated, underscoring the production's readiness. She also reiterated the original vision for the series: "Taylor [Sheridan] always envisioned it as a trilogy, so we have to close it out right. There’s no point in making it unless we can do justice to the true fans of Sicario."
Taylor Sheridan, the acclaimed screenwriter behind the first two films, crafted the intricate world and complex characters that have resonated with audiences. His original Sicario in 2015 introduced viewers to the brutal realities of the drug war on the U.S.-Mexico border, followed by 2018's Sicario: Day of the Soldado, which deepened the narrative around Gillick and Graver's operations. While details about the storyline for Sicario 3 remain under wraps, it is expected to serve as the definitive conclusion to Sheridan's envisioned trilogy.
Black Label Media, known for its involvement in the Sicario films and co-financing La La Land, will produce alongside Thunder Road, with Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee on board, and Ed McDonnell also credited as a producer. While The Hollywood Reporter confirmed these developments, Deadline was first to report on the casting news for Sicario 3.
