Josh Brolin is done keeping fans guessing. The 58-year-old actor, who has played CIA officer Matt Graver in both Sicario (2015) and Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018), just gave the clearest update yet on the franchise's long-gestating third chapter. While promoting his new film The Dog Stars, Brolin confirmed to ScreenRant that a third Sicario movie "is happening," with production expected to begin "soon." Here's everything you need to know about the update — and what's still up in the air.
Key Facts
- Brolin confirmed Sicario 3 "is happening" in an Aug. 21, 2026, interview with ScreenRant.
- The as-yet-untitled threequel is often referred to informally as Sicario: Capos.
- No director has been officially confirmed; Denis Villeneuve and Stefano Sollima directed the first two films.
- Benicio del Toro's character survived Soldado, leaving the door open for his return.
- Brolin currently has three other releases on the way: The Dog Stars, Whalefall and Dune: Part Three.
What Josh Brolin Said About Sicario 3
Brolin sat down with ScreenRant's Ash Crossan to promote The Dog Stars, the new Ridley Scott film hitting theaters Friday, Aug. 28 — but it was his comments about an entirely different project that grabbed headlines. Asked about the future of the Sicario franchise, Brolin confirmed the third installment "is happening," per ScreenRant. He also teased a production timeline, saying filming is set to kick off "soon."
That's a notable shift in tone from the actor. A year earlier, Brolin had described the project to The Hollywood Reporter in far more tentative terms, admitting he keeps "hearing that it's right around the corner" without a firm start date attached. Now, the language has changed from hopeful to confirmed — and fans of the border-set crime saga are taking notice.
Sicario's Long, Bumpy Road to a Third Film
The franchise has been trying to get a third movie off the ground for years. Plans first picked up steam after Day of the Soldado performed well at the box office in 2018, with producers describing the follow-up as being in active development not long after. Progress slowed considerably during the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, even as producers later suggested a script was close to finished.
Thad Luckinbill, a producer on the first two films, has echoed Brolin's optimism without going quite as far. "We're hoping to do it, so fingers crossed," Luckinbill told Entertainment Weekly, adding that he'd personally love to see another installment. Producers Molly Smith and Erica Lee have also confirmed on separate occasions that the third film remains a real, if slow-moving, priority for the studio.
Who Might Return for Sicario 3
Brolin's Matt Graver is expected to anchor the threequel once again, and del Toro's assassin-turned-operative Alejandro Gillick is very much alive heading into a potential third film — last seen recruiting a new figure into his world at the close of Soldado. Jeffrey Donovan and Raoul Trujillo are the only other actors confirmed to have reprised their roles in the sequel, and some fans are hoping Emily Blunt — absent from Soldado entirely — finds her way back into the fold.
Casting for any new roles has not been announced, and a studio timeline for official announcements has not been shared publicly.
The Biggest Unanswered Question: Who's Directing
Even with Brolin's confirmation, one major piece of the puzzle remains unresolved: who's actually directing. Denis Villeneuve, who helmed the acclaimed 2015 original alongside cinematographer Roger Deakins, is currently tied up with other major franchise commitments. Stefano Sollima, who directed Day of the Soldado, has not been confirmed to return either.
Adding to the intrigue, producer Molly Smith has described Christopher McQuarrie as a partner on the project, though she stopped short of specifying whether that means a writing, directing or producing role. It's also unclear who holds writing duties this time around — Taylor Sheridan wrote both prior films, but his packed slate of Paramount+ series has left him with little room for feature work in recent years.
Josh Brolin's Busy 2026 and Beyond
Brolin isn't waiting around for Sicario 3 to fill his schedule. Beyond The Dog Stars, out Aug. 28, the actor also appears in the upcoming thriller Whalefall, arriving in theaters Oct. 16, and has a role in Dune: Part Three, slated for a December release. It's a packed slate that underscores just how in-demand the veteran actor remains — even as fans wait for word on when exactly Sicario 3 cameras will roll.
What's Next for Sicario 3
For now, the update from Brolin is the most concrete confirmation the franchise has received in years, even without an official greenlight announcement, director attachment or start date from the studio. Bigwritehook has reached out to distributor Lionsgate for comment.
Fans eager for more border-set tension between Graver and Gillick will have to stay patient a little longer — but after years of stop-and-start updates, "soon" is the most encouraging word the franchise has offered yet. Stay tuned to Bigwritehook for more on Sicario 3 as details emerge.
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External Sources
- ScreenRant: "Taylor Sheridan's Sicario 3 Finally Happening With New Production Timeline Update From Josh Brolin"
- Deadline: "Josh Brolin Says 'Sicario 3' Is Happening"
