Josh Brolin has been keeping busy with a string of high-profile projects, from the horror hit Weapons to the star-studded Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery and the action-packed The Running Man. But for many fans, his most iconic role remains Matt Graver, the gritty CIA agent from the Sicario franchise. Now, Brolin has dropped a major update on the long-awaited third installment, confirming that production is finally moving forward.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter to promote his new survival thriller Whalefall, Brolin revealed that Sicario 3 is officially on the calendar. The actor, who first played Graver in Denis Villeneuve's 2015 original and returned for the 2018 sequel Sicario: Day of the Soldado, shared his excitement about the project's progress. "We were always looking at scripts. We always wanted to do it. We didn't intend to wait this long, but you have Benny [del Toro], Emily [Blunt] and me looking at things and reacting to filmmakers or scripts differently," Brolin said. "But then Steven Knight wrote a script that was incredible, and it was kind of undeniable. All of us reacted similarly. So we're very excited about doing it. We'll do it next year."
The news comes as a relief to fans who have been waiting years for a third Sicario film. The franchise, known for its tense border-war drama and morally complex characters, has been a favorite on streaming platforms, with the original enjoying a resurgence on HBO Max. The upcoming sequel will reunite Brolin with Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro, marking the first time all three leads have appeared together since the first film. Blunt's character, Kate Macer, was notably absent from the sequel, so her return is a major draw.
Steven Knight, best known for writing Dirty Pretty Things and the James Bond film No Time to Die, takes over scripting duties from Taylor Sheridan, who wrote the first two films. While some fans have expressed skepticism about Sheridan's departure, Brolin's praise for Knight's work suggests the franchise is in capable hands. Padraic McKinley, a relative newcomer with a background in short films and music videos, is set to direct, and Brolin is confident in his vision: "We have a great filmmaker, Padraic McKinley, who we think is going to make a very good movie, and we're excited."
As for when audiences can expect to see Sicario 3 in theaters, Brolin's confirmation that filming begins next year points to a likely 2028 release. While no official date has been announced, the project is clearly moving forward at a steady pace. In the meantime, fans can revisit the original Sicario on HBO Max and check out Brolin's latest work in Whalefall, which is currently in theaters. For more on the Sicario franchise and other upcoming thrillers, stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot.
Brolin's recent comments also echo his thoughts on other potential sequels, like his frustration over Dune 3, but his enthusiasm for Sicario 3 is unmistakable. With the original cast back together and a script that has everyone on board, this sequel is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated action films of the decade.
