According to Variety, a sequel to Sicario is already in development: Lionsgate Pictures is apparently interested in exploring the future adventures of Del Toro’s hitman, an interest that conveniently coincides with the knowledge that the film is doing fantastic in a highly limited release. (It pulled in $401,288 from just six theaters over the weekend.)
“Before the release of this movie, I was talking to [director Denis Villeneuve] and I said, ‘what happened to this character?,’” says Lionsgate studio co-chair Patrick Wachsberger. “’Where is Benicio going?’” The answer may be “the Lionsgate executive washroom,” as Lionsgate could try to snap him up with a lucrative contract. Or it could be “over here at Disney, silly,” because Del Toro’s still probably signed on to reprise the Collector as the Marvel Cinematic Universe starts to unspool its epic “magic rocks” MacGuffin story, and there’s word that he may be cast in one of Disney’s other billion-dollar franchises.
It doesn’t hurt sequel plans that, by all accounts, Sicario is quite good: The A.V. Club’s Mike D’Angelo gave Sicario an A, and used the words “heart-pounding excitement.” Lionsgate is also reportedly going to mount an Oscar campaign for Sicario, including best film, best director, best cinematography, and multiple acting nominations. “[Blunt] is totally credible,” said Wachsberger, heaping praise upon Emily Blunt’s performance as an FBI agent who gets drawn into dangerous, morally ambiguous territory.
We’ll be able to see what the fuss is about when Sicario opens for a wide release on October 2.