Lionsgate found themselves a very unlikely franchise last year, or at least that is the hope. The drug cartel thrillerSicariowas a modest box office hit but a tremendous critical smash. Even though it wrapped up very nicely and felt like a complete story, the studio decided to green light a sequel. Unfortunately,Emily Bluntwon’t be back forSicario 2, titledSoldado, but screenwriterTayler Sheridanhas a good reason for that.
Sicario 2won’t be a direct sequel toSicario, it will be a standalone movie. Speaking withThe Wraprecently,Tayler Sheridanexplained that he would really like to work withEmily Bluntagain, but couldn’t find a logical story reason to bring her character back, given the events of the first movie. Here is what he had to say.
“Look what she went through. It was a difficult role. Here I write this lead character and then I use her as a surrogate for the audience. I make her completely passive against her own will so the audience feels the same impotence that a lot of law enforcement officers feel, I drag her through hell, and betray her in the end. It was anarduous journeyfor the character, and for Emily. That character had arc.”
There are plenty of stories to tell within the world that was built inSicario, but part of the reason it was somewhat surprising to hearSicario 2was on the way has to do with whatTaylor Sheridanis talking about.Emily Blunt’s character Kate Mercer, the main focus of the movie, wrapped up her story pretty well, so there didn’t seem to be a reason to continue on. To drag her through more wouldn’t make sense. So at least withSoldado, the creative team is trying to do what best suits the story and not trying to force in a part for a big star just because they want her name on it. That said,Benicio Del ToroandJosh Brolinare both slated to return. Speaking with Independent shortly after the project was announced, the director for the sequel,Stefano Sollima, talked a bit about why that is.
“It’s not a real sequel. It’s absolutely astandalone movie– a completely different story with just two of the characters that you met in Sicario. The reason that I love [Soldado] is because it’s not exactly a sequel; it’s something you’re able to catch and enjoy even if you haven’t watched the first one.”
Stefano Sollimahas also teased that aSicario 3is already in the early stages at Lionsgate as well, so apparently, they have high hopes for the potential franchise. Sadly, directorDenis Villeneuvewill not be returning to directSoldado, as he is currently busy filming theBlade Runnersequel,Blade Runner 2049. At the moment,Denis Villeneuveis batting 1000, as all three of his directorial efforts,Prisoners,Sicarioand this year’s sci-fi hitArrival, have all been incredibly well received. So hopefully the sequel can maintain the same standard of quality without him at the helm.
The story ofSicariowas set in the lawless border area stretching between the U.S. and Mexico, where an idealistic FBI agent is exposed to the brutal world of international drug trafficking by members of a government task force who have enlisted her in their plan to take out a Mexican cartel boss. Along the way, things get brutal, twisted, messy and very gray. We still don’t know exactly what the story ofSoldadowill center on, but there is a lot to play with in the world they set up. Lionsgate has yet to set a date for the sequel, but we will be sure to keep you posted as details become available.
