The drug war isn’t over just yet. According to Josh Brolin, who starred in both Sicario films as CIA operative Matt Graver, a third installment in the gritty action franchise is “very, very real.” On a new episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Brolin confirmed that writer Taylor Sheridan is back at work on the long-awaited follow-up to his critically acclaimed thriller. The conversation turned to the potential Sicario 3 around the 43-minute mark, prompting Brolin to clarify past comments that the project was unlikely to happen. “I mentioned at some point, I don’t know, just to be contrary, I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s never going to happen,’” Brolin said with a laugh. “And then the producers showed up, and Molly [Smith] and you know, ‘That’s not true.’ Which is fine.”

He added, “And I just heard recently that it’s very, very real. So, cool.”

While Brolin didn’t confirm whether Denis Villeneuve, who directed the original Sicario, would return for the third installment, the project has long been rumored to be titled Sicario: Capos. First teased as far back as 2018 and given a title in 2021, the third chapter has reportedly been slow-rolling through development, with Mission: Impossible director Christopher McQuarrie once rumored to be attached — though nothing official has been announced.

Are the ‘Sicario’ Movies Good?

The first Sicario, released in 2015, followed FBI agent Kate Macer (played by Emily Blunt), who’s swept into the morally murky world of covert operations targeting Mexican drug cartels. The film also starred Benicio del Toro as haunted hitman Alejandro Gillick, and Daniel Kaluuya, Victor Garber, and Jon Bernthal in key supporting roles.

Critics and audiences alike praised the movie’s grounded, suspenseful tone. It earned a 92% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, an 85% audience score, and three Oscar nominations for Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Sound Editing. Directed by Villeneuve, the film grossed over $84 million on a modest $30 million budget.

Sheridan returned to script the 2018 sequel Sicario: Day of the Soldado, but both Blunt and Villeneuve were absent. Directed by Stefano Sollima, the film focused on the escalating tactics used by the CIA, once again putting Brolin’s and del Toro’s characters front and center. Despite a cast that also included Catherine Keener, Jeffrey Donovan, and Isabela Moner, the sequel failed to capture the same critical or commercial spark. With a 62% critics score and a box office gross of $75.8 million against a budget north of $35 million, it was a step down both financially and narratively.

Still, interest in a third chapter never faded. Sheridan’s stock has only risen since then, becoming the architect of the Yellowstone empire and one of Paramount’s most reliable storytellers. With Sicario: Capos now apparently back on track, fans may finally get the trilogy capper they’ve been waiting for.

via Collider