Sicario 2 lands its director, loses Emily Blunt

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The film will be called 'Soldado,' the Spanish word for soldier, and will center on Benicio Del Toro's character.
Italian helmer Stefano Sollima is in talks with Lionsgate to direct the sequel to Sicario. The film will be called Soldado, the Spanish word for soldier, and will center on Benicio Del Toro's character.

The Hollywood Reporter previously reported that a follow-up was in the works based on a Taylor Sheridan script with the hope that Denis Villenueve, who directed the first film, would return for the sequel.

Green Room helmer Jeremy Saulnier was the frontrunner to land the Soldado gig once Villeneuve's schedule became too packed, but he couldn't make the dates work given the film's fall production schedule.

James Brolin will be back as a CIA agent who plays both sides of the fence in the American war on drugs. Emily Blunt, who starred in the first film as a righteous FBI agent, will not return.

Sollima, who is repped by CAA and Brillstein, is best known for directing the Italian miniseries Gomorra.

The sequel is being produced by Basil Iwanyk, Black Label’s Molly Smith and Thad and Trent Luckinbill, and Edward McDonnell. Lionsgate and Black Label are co-financing.

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