After years of prolonged development and multiple schedule delays, the third installment in the gritty crime-thriller franchise is moving forward. Actor Josh Brolin has confirmed that Sicario 3 remains actively in development, though it will proceed without franchise creator Taylor Sheridan penning the screenplay.
Speaking with ScreenRant at New York Comic Con, Brolin provided an encouraging production update. The actor, who plays CIA Special Activities Division officer Matt Graver, confirmed that the project is undergoing script revisions and preparing for production.
Creative Changes: Steven Knight Takes Over Scripting Duties from Taylor Sheridan
The most notable shift for the upcoming threequel involves its writing room. Taylor Sheridan, who wrote both 2015’s original Sicario and 2018’s Sicario: Day of the Soldado, will not write the script for the third film. Sheridan has spent recent years focused on expanding his television empire at Paramount+, which includes hits like Yellowstone, Landman, Tulsa King, and Mayor of Kingstown.
To fill the vacancy, screenwriter Steven Knight has taken over scripting duties. Padraic McKinley has stepped in to direct the feature. Brolin noted that the creative team is reviewing and refining Knight’s screenplay during the current development phase, expressing strong confidence in McKinley’s ongoing contributions to shaping the story.
Original Cast Expected to Reunite
While the behind-the-scenes personnel has shifted, the core talent that anchored the border-war dramas is anticipated to return. Alongside Brolin’s return as Matt Graver, announcements indicate that Benicio del Toro will reprise his role as the assassin Alejandro Gillick, and original star Emily Blunt is slated to return as FBI agent Kate Macer.
Brolin expressed enthusiasm about reuniting with his primary co-stars nearly a decade after the franchise’s inception. The chemistry among the principal cast members served as a cornerstone for the critical and commercial success of the first film, which grossed over $160 million globally across the first two theatrical releases.
Production Timeline and Future Outlook
Although producers previously cited industry disruptions, including the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, as major hurdles for the timeline, momentum has picked back up. Brolin indicated that production is targeted to begin soon once final revisions to Knight’s script are locked in.
As the creative team finalizes pre-production details, fans of the hard-boiled crime franchise can expect further casting announcements and a concrete shooting schedule in the coming months.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sicario 3
Who is writing Sicario 3?
Steven Knight is handling the screenplay for Sicario 3, taking over writing duties from franchise creator Taylor Sheridan.
Who is directing the third Sicario movie?
Padraic McKinley is set to direct Sicario 3, succeeding Denis Villeneuve and Stefano Sollima, who directed the first and second films respectively.
Which original cast members are returning?
Josh Brolin, Benicio del Toro, and Emily Blunt are confirmed or slated to return for the third installment of the crime thriller.
What is the production status of Sicario 3?
Josh Brolin confirmed that the movie is actively in development, undergoing script refinements, and preparing to enter production soon.
Did Taylor Sheridan write Sicario 3?
No, Taylor Sheridan-who wrote the first two films in the franchise-is not writing the third installment due to his commitments to television projects like Yellowstone.
