Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin set to return for 'Sicario 3'

Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin are set to return for Sicario 3, with Black Label Media and Thunder Road moving forward on the long-awaited third instalment of the crime thriller franchise.

According to reports, filmmaker Padraic McKinley has been chosen to direct the project, while Oscar-nominated writer Steven Knight is developing the screenplay. Plot details for the new film remain under wraps.

The Sicario franchise was created by Taylor Sheridan and began with Denis Villeneuve’s critically acclaimed 2015 film, which starred Blunt, Del Toro and Brolin. The original movie became a box office and awards-season success, helping establish Villeneuve as one of Hollywood’s leading directors. A follow-up, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, was released in 2018 and featured Del Toro and Brolin reprising their roles.

The popularity of the franchise has continued to grow, and reports suggest the three stars agreed to return after reading the latest draft by Knight. Producers then launched a search for a director before selecting McKinley for the job.

The script is reportedly being refined with input from the cast, with production expected to begin early next year. While Lionsgate distributed the first two films, the new project is expected to be taken to the market, with several studios already said to be interested.

Black Label Media’s Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill and Thad Luckinbill will produce alongside Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, while Ed McDonnell also returns as a producer.

Blunt was recently seen in The Devil Wears Prada 2 and has completed work on A Quiet Place Part III. Del Toro earned an Oscar nomination for One Battle After Another, while Brolin will next appear in Whalefall.