It’s been five years since Stefano Sollima‘s “Sicario: Day Of The Soldado,” the sequel to Denis Villeneuve‘s much-heralded 2015 film. But critics didn’t take to the 2018 sequel like they did to Villeneuve’s original, which suggests the franchise won’t continue. Apparently, that’s not the case. The Messenger reports that series producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee confirm that a third “Sicario” movie is in the works.
“Oh yeah,” Iwanyk told the outlet when asked about “Sicario 3.” In reference to the ongoing WGA guild strikes, Lee added, “When we can continue writing it. It was pencils down, but the idea is awesome.” What’s more, Iwanyk, who also produces the “John Wick” franchise, including the new Peacock series “The Continental,” hints that Benicio del Toro will reprise his role as prosecutor-turned-assassin Alejandro Gillick in the third film. “I can’t wait for “Sicario 3,”” he continued. “I could watch Benicio play that guy forever. I mean, I can watch Benicio in anything, but with that character, it doesn’t get old.”
“Sicario” follows Emily Blunts FBI agent as she’s brought in by Josh Brolin‘s CIA officer Matt Graver to assist on a task force taking down the head of a drug cartel. She crosses passes with del Toro’s Alejandro early on, an ex-lawyer who became a shadowy CIA asset after the cartel’s leader murdered his family. Taylor Sheridan wrote the script for Villeneuve’s film, with the action-thriller receiving high marks from critics and audiences alike. Brolin and del Toro returned for Sollima’s “Day Of The Soldado,” which sees Graver enlist Alejandro in a black-ops mission to incite war between the cartels in Mexico. To do so, they kidnap the daughter of a kingpin, making it look like another cartel did it.
Iwanyk and Lee didn’t mention if Brolin will return for the third film, but the project is likely on hold due to the ongoing strikes. But with del Toro’s Alejandro and Brolin’s Graver as thick as thieves, it only makes sense for Brolin to reprise his role, too. As for who will direct “Sicario 3,” who knows? Villenueve will be done with his “Dune” films once “Dune: Part Two” hits theaters next March, and he’s not attached to anything else afterward. As for Sheridan, he may be too busy with “Yellowstone” and its many spin-offs to pen the third film.
But Iwanyk is correct: Alejandro is one of del Toro’s most memorable roles, and the shadowy world he operates in makes for thrilling stuff to watch. Let’s hope “Sicario 3” improves on “Day Of The Soldado” and works as well as the 2015 original.
