Lionsgate is home to both "The Hunger Games" and "Twilight" series, so they know a thing or two about sequels, but they are not limiting their franchise potential to just YA fare. Following a terrific limited release opening weekend, which saw "Sicario" boast the best per-screen-average of the year, chatter is already starting on a followup.
Variety reports that screenwriter Taylor Sheridan, and director Denis Villeneuve are starting development on a sequel to "Sicario." The hook is that the movie will focus on Benicio Del Toro‘s enigmatic consultant, Alejandro. Lionsgate are already keyed up on "Sicario" which they see as a very viable Oscar contender, and while details are still being sorted out, Sheridan is overseeing the sequel, though Villeneuve is not committed to direct just yet, but is also involved.
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It’ll certainly be interesting to see what approach they go with in the story. The film features a key narrative twist, that reveals Alejandro to have ties to the formerly powerful Medellin cartel, using his involvement with U.S. government task force, to take control of the drug trade now in control by the Mexican cartel. He spends the final act of the picture exacting revenge on the kingpin for the killing of his family. So will the new picture track his rise back to power or his tragic fall? There’s really two directions things can go.
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I’m wary of a followup, if only because "Sicario" as it stands a tremendous picture all on its own, and it feels self-contained. But if Sheridan, Villeneuve and co. come up with the right way in, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and be glad to see where they carry the story.
"Sicario" goes wide on October 2nd.