'Sicario 3' Will Bring Back Josh Brolin, Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro With New Director

The 'Sicario' franchise is officially moving forward with a third instalment, and the new film is bringing back its original stars Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin. The long-awaited sequel is being developed by Black Label Media and Thunder Road, with 'The Weight' director Padraic McKinley attached to direct.

Oscar-nominated screenwriter Steven Knight is writing the script, marking a major change behind the scenes for the crime thriller franchise. Plot details for 'Sicario 3' are currently being kept under wraps, but the return of all three principal stars is likely to be one of the film's biggest attractions.

Emily Blunt Returns to the 'Sicario' Franchise

Blunt's involvement is particularly significant because she did not appear in the 2018 sequel, 'Sicario: Day of the Soldado'. In the original 2015 film, Blunt played FBI Special Agent Kate Macer, who becomes involved in a covert operation targeting a Mexican drug cartel. Brolin played CIA officer Matt Graver, while Del Toro portrayed mysterious operative Alejandro Gillick.

Brolin and Del Toro returned for 'Day of the Soldado', but Blunt's character was absent from the story. Her return for the third film therefore reunites the three central stars of the original movie for the first time in a new 'Sicario' instalment.

According to reports, the three actors read the latest version of the screenplay before agreeing to return, suggesting that their involvement came after seeing how the new story had developed.

A New Director Takes Over

While the cast is returning, the third film will have a new filmmaker behind the camera. Padraic McKinley has been tapped to direct, following Denis Villeneuve, who directed the original 'Sicario', and Stefano Sollima, who took over for 'Day of the Soldado'. McKinley's feature directorial debut, 'The Weight', stars Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe.

McKinley's appointment means the third 'Sicario' film will have a different director from both of its predecessors. The filmmaker will work from a screenplay by Steven Knight, the creator of 'Peaky Blinders' and an Oscar-nominated writer. Knight is also working on the next 'James Bond' film, making him one of the most in-demand screenwriters currently attached to major franchises.

Taylor Sheridan Won't Write 'Sicario 3'

Another significant change is the absence of Taylor Sheridan from the screenplay. Sheridan created the 'Sicario' franchise and wrote both the 2015 original and 'Day of the Soldado'. However, his increasingly busy television career, including the huge 'Yellowstone' universe, has prevented him from writing the third film.

Instead, Knight has taken over scripting duties. Reports indicate that Knight is working with McKinley and incorporating notes from the returning stars as the project develops. The shift gives 'Sicario 3' a different creative team while retaining the characters and performers who established the franchise.

When Will 'Sicario 3' Be Released?

There is currently no release date or distributor attached to the film. Black Label Media and Thunder Road are expected to take the project to the market, with multiple studios reportedly interested. The plan is for production to begin in early 2027, although that timeline could change as the film moves through development and secures distribution.

The original 'Sicario' was released in 2015, while 'Day of the Soldado' followed in 2018. Now, eight years after the second film, the franchise is officially moving forward with a third instalment.

With the original trio reunited but a new director and writer taking the franchise in a different direction, 'Sicario 3' could mark a fresh chapter for the series while retaining the characters that made the first two films so memorable.