EXCLUSIVE: Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin appear ready to return to the land of wolves as sources tell Deadline that Black Label Media and Thunder Road are bringing the team back for Sicarius 3. Padraic McKinley is on board to direct. Academy Award nominee Steven Knight wrote the screenplay. Details surrounding the plot are being kept secret.
THE Sicarius the franchise was created by Taylor Sheridan. The first film of 2015, a surprise hit, not only featuring strong performances from its three lead actors, but also propelling Denis Villeneuve as a leading director. A sequel, Sicario: Day of the Soldadowas greenlit with the return of Del Toro and Brolin and released theatrically in 2018.
The series’ popularity only grew over the years and after all three stars read Knight’s final draft, all agreed to return for the third film. The next step was to find a director; according to sources, the search was extensive, not only did the producers of Black Label and Thunder Road meet with potential candidates, but the main cast also had their own meetings. Ultimately, McKinley emerged as the more impressive candidate and won the job.
McKinley and Knight are currently working on the script with notes from the stars and the plan is to shoot at the end of the year. Lionsgate released the first two films, but according to sources, the plan is to commercialize the project, with several studios already showing interest in the package.
Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill and Thad Luckinbill will produce from Black Label Media. Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee will produce from Thunder Road. Ed McDonnell returns as producer.
Blunt was recently seen in the summer hit sequel The devil wears Prada 2 and recently completed production on A quiet place, part 3. Brolin can be seen next in the 20th century film Whale fall, which also stars Austin Abrams and opens October 16. Del Toro just earned an Oscar nomination for his role in One battle after another.
McKinley is replaced by Range, Innovative and Jackoway Austen. Del Toro is repped by LBI Entertainment, Range and Hansen Jacobson. Brolin is replaced by CAA, Narrative and Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett, Kole. Blunt is repped by CAA and David Weber of Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.
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