The long-awaited Sicario 3 has taken another major step forward, and this time the news is especially significant for fans of the original movie. Taylor Sheridan is officially returning to write the script for the third instalment of the Sicario franchise, putting the writer who created the series back at the centre of its next chapter.
The update arrives after years of uncertainty surrounding the project. Since Sicario: Day of the Soldado hit theatres in 2018, a third movie has repeatedly surfaced in development reports without moving into production. That changed in August when Josh Brolin confirmed that Sicario 3 is happening and that filming could begin soon.
Now, a new report from Variety provides the clearest indication yet of Sheridan’s role. The report states that Sheridan has written the script for the third Sicario movie, alongside his work on Paramount’s upcoming Call of Duty film.
For fans who have been waiting to return to the franchise’s brutal world of cartels, covert operations and morally complicated operatives, this is easily the biggest Sicario 3 update in years.
Taylor Sheridan Is Writing Sicario 3
Taylor Sheridan’s return matters because he isn’t simply another screenwriter attached to the project. He wrote the screenplay for the original Sicario in 2015 and also penned Sicario: Day of the Soldado three years later.
The first film introduced audiences to a particularly bleak vision of the war on drugs, following FBI agent Kate Macer as she becomes involved with a covert government operation targeting a powerful Mexican cartel. Her assignment brings her into contact with CIA operative Matt Graver and the mysterious Alejandro Gillick, played by Josh Brolin and Benicio del Toro respectively.
Sheridan’s screenplay helped establish the franchise’s distinctive approach to action. Rather than treating the cartel war as a straightforward battle between heroes and villains, Sicario built its tension around compromised institutions, revenge and characters who frequently operate outside conventional rules.
That DNA is one reason Taylor Sheridan writing Sicario 3 is such an important development.
The new film’s exact story has not been revealed, but Sheridan’s involvement suggests that the third chapter will remain connected to the tone and world established by the first two movies.
Josh Brolin Says Sicario 3 Is Happening
Before Sheridan’s writing involvement was confirmed, Josh Brolin provided the most encouraging update on the movie’s production.
Brolin, who played CIA operative Matt Graver in both previous Sicario films, said in August that Sicario 3 is happening and that production would begin “soon.”
That statement gave fans considerably more confidence than the earlier development rumours surrounding the project. The third movie has been discussed for years, but repeated delays and changes behind the scenes made its future difficult to predict.
Brolin’s comments indicated that the project had moved much closer to production. With Sheridan’s screenplay now reported as complete, the movie appears to have taken another substantial step toward becoming a reality.
However, there is still no officially announced production date.
Who Could Return for Sicario 3?
Josh Brolin is the clearest returning name at the moment. His Matt Graver appeared in both previous movies and became one of the franchise’s central characters.
Benicio del Toro could also return as Alejandro Gillick, the enigmatic assassin whose personal connection to the cartel war has been one of the most important elements of the franchise. Recent reporting has identified Alejandro as a key part of the potential continuation, although a complete official cast announcement has not been made.
The big question is Emily Blunt.
Blunt played FBI agent Kate Macer in the original Sicario, serving as the audience’s entry point into Sheridan’s dangerous world. Her character was absent from Day of the Soldado, so it remains unclear whether she could return for the third movie.
At this stage, Emily Blunt’s involvement has not been officially confirmed. The same caution applies to several other returning characters.
For now, the safest expectation is that Brolin is strongly connected to the project, while the rest of the principal cast remains subject to official announcements.
What Could Sicario 3 Be About?
The story of Sicario 3 remains largely under wraps.
Earlier reports have connected the project with the working title Sicario: Capos, but no official plot synopsis has been released.
The first two films established a world where the traditional boundaries between law enforcement, intelligence operations and criminal organisations are deliberately blurred. That gives Sheridan plenty of room to expand the story without simply repeating the plots of the earlier movies.
Matt Graver and Alejandro’s continuing battle against cartel networks would provide an obvious route for the sequel, particularly given the unresolved tensions surrounding the characters at the end of Day of the Soldado.
But until the studio or filmmakers release an official synopsis, any specific storyline should be treated as speculation rather than confirmed information.
Why Sicario Remains One of Taylor Sheridan’s Most Important Movies
Long before Yellowstone turned Taylor Sheridan into one of television’s biggest creative forces, Sicario helped establish his reputation as a screenwriter capable of handling morally complex crime stories.
The 2015 movie was directed by Denis Villeneuve and starred Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin. It received widespread critical acclaim and earned three Academy Award nominations for cinematography, original score and sound editing.
The film’s success led to Sicario: Day of the Soldado in 2018. Stefano Sollima directed the sequel, while Sheridan returned as screenwriter. Brolin and del Toro reprised their roles, taking the story further into the violent conflict between government operatives and criminal organisations.
Although the sequel did not receive the same level of acclaim as Villeneuve’s original, it expanded the franchise’s world and left enough room for another story.
That makes Sheridan’s return for Sicario 3 particularly fitting. The franchise began with his screenplay, and now its long-delayed third chapter is once again being shaped by his writing.
Who Will Direct Sicario 3?
This is one of the biggest unanswered questions surrounding the sequel.
No director has been officially announced for Sicario 3.
Denis Villeneuve directed the original Sicario, while Stefano Sollima took over directing duties for Day of the Soldado. Neither filmmaker has been confirmed to return for the third film.
Villeneuve’s absence is hardly surprising considering his increasingly packed schedule, including his work on the Dune franchise and other major projects.
There have also been previous discussions about possible filmmakers for the third movie, but no director has been officially attached.
Until that changes, Taylor Sheridan’s return as writer is the major confirmed creative development, while the directing position remains open.
When Will Sicario 3 Be Released?
There is currently no confirmed release date for Sicario 3.
Josh Brolin’s August update suggested that production could begin soon, but neither a filming date nor a theatrical release window has been officially announced.
That means fans should be careful with online posts claiming a specific release year or production schedule. The movie has spent a long time in development, and a production start does not automatically mean that a release date has been locked.
Once filming begins and the studio announces its plans, more concrete information about the release timeline should follow.
Is Sicario 3 Really Happening?
Yes — the project has moved beyond the stage of being just an old sequel rumour.
Josh Brolin has publicly said that Sicario 3 is happening, with production expected to begin soon, while the latest Variety reporting confirms that Taylor Sheridan has written the script.
There are still important pieces missing, including the full cast, director and release date. But compared with the years of uncertainty surrounding the project, the latest developments represent genuine progress.
For fans of the original Sicario, Sheridan’s return may be the most reassuring part of all.
What We Know About Sicario 3 So Far
At the moment, the confirmed and reported details can be separated fairly clearly.
Taylor Sheridan: Returning as the writer of the third film.
Josh Brolin: Expected to return as Matt Graver, with the actor saying the movie is happening and production should begin soon.
Benicio del Toro: Expected by current reporting to potentially reprise Alejandro Gillick, although a complete official cast announcement has not been made.
Emily Blunt: Her return as Kate Macer remains unconfirmed.
Director: No official director has been announced.
Story: Plot details remain under wraps.
Working title: The project has previously been referred to as Sicario: Capos, but that title has not been confirmed as the final name.
Release date: No official release date has been announced.
Final Verdict: Why Sicario 3 Is Worth Watching
Eight years after Sicario: Day of the Soldado, the franchise finally appears to be moving toward its next chapter.
The biggest reason for optimism is simple: Taylor Sheridan is back behind the script. The writer who established the franchise’s cold, tense and morally complicated world is once again responsible for shaping its future.
Add Josh Brolin’s apparent return as Matt Graver and the possibility of Benicio del Toro returning as Alejandro, and Sicario 3 suddenly looks much more substantial than another sequel that has spent years stuck in development.
There are still plenty of questions. We don’t know who will direct, whether Emily Blunt will return, exactly when cameras will roll or when audiences will finally see the finished film.
But for now, the wait has produced its most encouraging update yet.
Sicario 3 is happening — and Taylor Sheridan is writing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Taylor Sheridan writing Sicario 3?
Yes. Recent reporting confirms that Taylor Sheridan has written the script for the third Sicario movie.
2. Is Josh Brolin returning for Sicario 3?
Josh Brolin is expected to return as Matt Graver. The actor previously confirmed that the third movie is happening and said production should begin soon.
3. Will Benicio del Toro be in Sicario 3?
Benicio del Toro is strongly expected to return as Alejandro Gillick, although a full official cast announcement has not yet been made.
4. Is Emily Blunt returning for Sicario 3?
Emily Blunt’s return as Kate Macer has not been officially confirmed.
5. What is the Sicario 3 release date?
Sicario 3 does not currently have an officially announced release date.
6. Who will direct Sicario 3?
No director has officially been announced for the third Sicario movie.
7. Is Sicario 3 called Sicario: Capos?
Sicario: Capos has been used as a working title in previous reports, but it has not been confirmed as the movie’s final official title.
8. When will Sicario 3 start filming?
Josh Brolin has said production is expected to begin soon, but an exact filming date has not been announced.
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