Sicario 3: Capos is an upcoming American action thriller that fans have been waiting for since 2018. The film is expected to continue the gritty saga of the drug war at the US-Mexico border that captivated audiences in the first two installments.
The first Sicario was directed by Denis Villeneuve, written by Taylor Sheridan, and produced under Black Label Media with Thunder Road Pictures. Stefano Sollima replaced Villeneuve as director for the second film, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, while keeping the same production team and writer.
Based on the drug war at the US-Mexico border, the film series follows the United States government’s attempts to manipulate and incite conflict among powerful drug cartels through covert operations and morally questionable tactics.
Will there be a Sicario 3?
The short answer is yes—but it’s been a long and winding road to get here.
The journey began in June 2018, when producer Trent Luckinbill confirmed in an exclusive interview with ScreenRant that Sicario 3 was in development. He revealed that fans could expect to see a sequel to Sicario: Day of the Soldado, with screenwriter Taylor Sheridan working on a potential story.
The producer also shared that the story would continue exploring the drug war at the US-Mexican border, where cartels have expanded their operations to include human trafficking of terrorists along with drug smuggling.
However, the project faced numerous challenges over the years. Sheridan became increasingly busy with his Paramount+ empire, including the massively popular Yellowstone and its various prequels and spin-offs, as well as shows like Tulsa King and Lioness. This raised questions about whether he would have time to complete a third Sicario film.
Recent Promising Updates
After years of uncertainty, the project received several encouraging updates in 2024 and 2025:
In April 2024, Josh Brolin revealed to The Playlist that while Mission: Impossible director Christopher McQuarrie had been involved with the project for a time, he was no longer attached. Sheridan’s involvement also became uncertain, though Brolin emphasized that producers were committed to making the film happen—but only with the right story.
The most significant breakthrough came in August 2025, when Brolin appeared on the Happy Sad Confused podcast and shared exciting news: “I just heard recently that it’s very, very real. So, cool.” This marked a dramatic shift from his earlier pessimistic comments about the project’s future.
Producer Molly Smith also pushed back against doubts about the film’s viability, confirming that the project is definitely moving forward and that producers are fully committed to making it happen.
What’s the Current Status of Sicario 3?
The project has experienced significant development challenges since its initial announcement seven years ago. The 2023 Writers Guild of America strike created a major obstacle, temporarily halting all script work on the film.
In an interview with The Messenger in late 2023, producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee confirmed that the strike was the primary obstacle preventing the film from moving full steam ahead. “Oh yeah,” Iwanyk said when asked if the threequel was happening. “When we can continue writing it. It was pencils down, but the idea is awesome.”
Brolin himself revealed in 2022 that the script has been written and rewritten multiple times: “It’s been written and it’s been rewritten. So it’s out there. It’s very much at the forefront of all of our minds… We think it deserves a third one if we can make it in the way that we want to make it. So don’t give up hope!”
The producers have made it clear that they refuse to rush the project. They’re committed to ensuring that Sicario 3 has a story compelling enough to justify the substantial budget and the long wait fans have endured.
Who Will Direct Sicario 3?
This remains one of the biggest unanswered questions surrounding the project.
Denis Villeneuve directed the critically acclaimed first film, which earned three Academy Award nominations and established the franchise’s intense, atmospheric tone. While producers initially hoped Villeneuve might return for the third installment, this has become increasingly unlikely.
Villeneuve has become one of Hollywood’s most in-demand directors. He’s currently filming Dune: Part Three in Budapest, Hungary, and is also attached to direct the next James Bond film for Amazon-MGM, a nuclear war feature, and a proposed Cleopatra remake. His packed schedule makes a return to Sicario extremely challenging, if not impossible.
When Brolin was asked in August 2025 whether Villeneuve would return to direct after completing his current commitments, he simply replied: “I honestly don’t know that.”
Stefano Sollima, who directed Sicario: Day of the Soldado, has already ruled himself out from returning. He told Variety:
“I’d love to watch another chapter of Sicario, but it should be from a different director who has their own specific style. You shouldn’t have more than one film from the same director. Then it would be too much like a real franchise.”
As of October 2025, no director has been officially attached to Sicario 3.
When Is Sicario 3 Coming Out?
Right now, there’s no confirmed release date for Sicario 3: Capos, but recent updates suggest the long-delayed sequel is finally gaining traction. Since Sicario: Day of the Soldado premiered in 2018, the franchise has been stuck in development limbo — slowed by creative changes, scheduling conflicts, and the industry-wide disruptions caused by the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes. Screenwriter Taylor Sheridan has also been heavily involved with his expanding Yellowstone universe, which pushed the project further down the pipeline.
In a hopeful sign for fans, Josh Brolin shared in a recent interview that Sicario 3 is now “very, very real,” hinting that development has advanced behind the scenes. Industry analysts now expect the project to enter active production within the next year, potentially positioning the film for a late 2026 or early 2027 release window — although nothing is official yet. Until Lionsgate or the producers make a formal announcement, the exact timeline remains speculative.
Sicario Where to Watch?
You can watch both the Sicario films on HBOMAX inside the United States, on Crave inside Canada, and on Prime Video inside UK.
| Streaming Service | Sicario(2015) | Sicario: Day of the Soldado(2018) |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | Included with Prime | Rent or buy |
| Hulu | HBO Max add-on | HBO Max add-on |
| HBO Max | Included with subscription | Included with subscription |
| Netflix | Not available | Not available |
| Disney+ | Not available | Not available |
| Apple TV | Rent or buy | Rent or buy |
| Google Play | Rent or buy | Rent or buy |
| Vudu | Rent or buy | Rent or buy |
Cast of Sicario 3
One of the most exciting developments is the confirmation that the original trio is set to return.
In an exclusive interview with Collider, producer Molly Smith revealed that plans are in place to reunite Josh Brolin (CIA operative Matt Graver), Benicio Del Toro (assassin Alejandro Gillick), and Emily Blunt (FBI Agent Kate Macer). Crucially, Smith confirmed that all three actors are on board, pending schedule alignments.
“Our idea is to get the cast back together with Benicio, Emily, and Josh, and we’ve got a great story to tell,” Smith told Collider’s Editor-in-Chief Steve Weintraub. “Benicio, by nature of just working with us most recently [on Reptile], has been probably the closest to it at the moment. But we’re keeping all the talent informed. They’ve stayed close to it.”
Emily Blunt’s return is particularly significant, as her character Kate Macer was notably absent from Sicario: Day of the Soldado. Her involvement suggests that Sicario 3 will connect back to the moral and ethical questions raised in the first film.
Producer Basil Iwanyk also confirmed Benicio del Toro’s participation, stating: “I can’t wait for Sicario 3. I could watch Benicio play that guy forever. I mean, I can watch Benicio in anything, but with that character, it doesn’t get old.”
If the story follows the path suggested by Day of the Soldado’s ending, we can also expect Elijah Rodriguez to return as Miguel Hernandez, the young gang member who shot Alejandro.
Sicario 3 Trailer
As of now, there is no trailer or teaser for Sicario 3. Considering that the film has yet to go into production, and there is no director on board, it may be quite a while until any material is available.
What will happen in Sicario 3?
The title Capos — Spanish for “bosses” — is a pretty big clue to where the story might be heading. After two intense chapters of border warfare and shadowy government missions, the third installment is expected to take us deeper into the criminal underworld than ever before. This time, the fight won’t just be against faceless cartel soldiers — it’s headed straight to the top.
If the rumors are accurate, Sicario 3 will explore the rise of new cartel leaders who operate on a global scale, pulling strings that even the U.S. government can’t fully control. Alejandro (Benicio del Toro), who miraculously survived a gunshot in Day of the Soldado, could find himself walking a darker path — one that blurs the line between revenge and justice more than ever. Meanwhile, Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) is likely to face his own breaking point, questioning how far he’s willing to go as the war he helped ignite spirals beyond anyone’s control.
And there’s another wild card: the possible return of Kate Macer (Emily Blunt). If she reappears, the dynamic could change entirely, forcing Alejandro and Matt to confront not just the cartels — but their own choices. With the stakes higher, alliances shifting, and betrayals inevitable, Sicario 3 is shaping up to be the most intense, morally complex, and unpredictable chapter yet.
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I want to see sicario 3 on big screen not net flick
This will be a great movie belongs on big screen!!!!!!Im not knocking net Felix but its hot two show on big screen too!!
Brolin is my favorite.
Isabella must confront her father
Same team