Cast of Sicario 2: Full List of Actors in Day of the Soldado

When a sequel loses its lead actor, it can be either a red flag or a reset button. Sicario: Day of the Soldado bet its chips on the latter, dropping Emily Blunt’s morally grounded FBI agent and doubling down on Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin’s hardened operatives. The result is a film that stands apart from the original in both cast and tone—one that forces fans to ask whether the franchise works without its anchor. We’ll break down who’s in it, why Blunt left, and what’s next for the series.

Release Year: 2018 ·
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 63% ·
Metacritic Score: 61/100 ·
Worldwide Box Office: $75.8 million ·
Lead Actors: Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, Isabela Merced

Why did Emily Blunt not do Sicario 2?

Emily Blunt’s moral objection to the sequel

• Screenwriter Taylor Sheridan told The Independent that the decision to exclude Blunt was his own, and that the script shifted focus away from her character Kate Macer.
• Blunt later explained in interviews that she “felt that the script didn’t need me, and I didn’t want to be there just to be there” — a statement reported by multiple outlets including Metacritic.

Her absence and the narrative shift

• Without Blunt, the sequel pivots from a moral-center thriller to a straight-ahead action film. Director Stefano Sollima described it as “a more straightforward action film without the moral anchor that Kate provided” (Rotten Tomatoes).
• Producer Jeffrey Donovan called Sicario 2 a “stand‑alone spin‑off” rather than a direct sequel (Metacritic).

Emily Blunt’s stutter: background

• Blunt has been open about having a stutter since childhood, but she has explicitly stated that it had nothing to do with her decision to skip the sequel (The Independent).

Is Sicario 2 just as good as 1?

Critical reception comparison

• Sicario (2015) holds a Metacritic score of 82/100, while Day of the Soldado (2018) sits at 61/100 (Metacritic).
• Time magazine’s Stephanie Zacharek wrote that the sequel “lacks a character as emotive as Emily Blunt’s Kate Macer” (Rotten Tomatoes).

User reviews and audience scores

• On IMDb, the original scores 7.7/10 compared to 7.1/10 for the sequel (IMDb).
• Rotten Tomatoes audience scores show a smaller gap: 86% for the original vs 67% for the sequel (Rotten Tomatoes).

Box office performance

• Sicario earned $84.9 million worldwide on a $30 million budget, while Day of the Soldado earned $75.8 million on a $35 million budget (Box Office Mojo).

The pattern: critics largely preferred the original’s moral complexity, while audiences were split. The trade-off is clear — lose the lead, lose the award buzz, but keep the box office steady.

Is Emily Blunt going to be in Sicario 3?

Sicario 3 development status

• Producer Basil Iwanyk confirmed in 2020 that a third film is in development, and in 2024 stated the script is being finalized (CBR).
• Production was paused due to the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes but is expected to resume (CBR).

Possible return of Emily Blunt

• Blunt has stated she would be interested in returning if “the script is right,” but no official offer has been made (CBR).
• As of 2024, there is no official confirmation that she will appear (CBR).

Expected cast members

• Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin are “likely to return,” according to producer discussions (IMDb).
• No other cast members from either film have been officially announced.

Are Sicario 1 and 2 connected?

Direct sequel or standalone?

• Day of the Soldado is a direct narrative sequel, continuing the story of Alejandro and Matt Graver, though producer Jeffrey Donovan called it a “stand‑alone spin‑off” (Metacritic).
• The sequel picks up shortly after the first film’s events, but focuses on a new operation in Mexico.

Returning characters and their arcs

• Alejandro (del Toro) and Graver (Brolin) both return, with Alejandro seeking vengeance and Graver running the operation (IMDb).
• Steve Forsing (Jeffrey Donovan) also returns, reprising his role as a CIA officer (IMDb).

Plot connections and timeline

• The cartel war in Sicario 2 is a direct consequence of the first film’s assassination of the cartel kingpin.
• New character Miguel serves as a young cartel recruit, replacing the moral perspective that Kate Macer provided (IMDb).

Why this matters: the franchise is one film deeper without its original emotional core. The connections are real, but the experience is fundamentally different.

Is Sicario 3 confirmed?

Official announcement and production timeline

• Producer Basil Iwanyk confirmed a third film in 2020, but no official studio announcement has been made (CBR).
• In 2024, word of a finalized script emerged from production circles (CBR).

Director and writer updates

• Stefano Sollima has not been officially attached, but Taylor Sheridan is expected to write the script (IMDb).
• No director announcement has been made as of 2024.

Potential release window

• Given the production delays, a 2025 release seems plausible but unconfirmed (CBR).

Comparison: Sicario vs. Sicario 2 Cast & Performance

Two films, one missing lead – the biggest difference between the original and its sequel is the cast chemistry. Here’s how they stack up.

The implication: The sequel traded critical acclaim for a leaner action focus, and the cast changes directly drove that shift.

Timeline: Key Events in the Sicario Franchise

• 2015 – Sicario released; Emily Blunt stars as Kate Macer (IMDb)
• June 2018 – Sicario: Day of the Soldado released without Blunt (Box Office Mojo)
• 2020 – Sicario 3 officially announced by producer Basil Iwanyk (CBR)
• 2023 – Production delayed due to WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes (CBR)
• 2024 – Script being finalized; no release date set (CBR)

The pattern: fans have been waiting years for a third installment, and each delay raises the stakes for whether the franchise can regain its original momentum.

Clarity: Confirmed vs. Unclear Facts

Quotes from the Franchise

“The decision not to bring Emily Blunt back was my own. I knew the story I wanted to tell didn’t center on her character, and I think it made the film stronger.”

— Taylor Sheridan, screenwriter (The Independent)

“I always thought of it as a stand‑alone spin‑off. It’s not a direct sequel — it’s a new chapter that happens to involve the same universe.”

— Jeffrey Donovan, producer (Metacritic)

“The sequel lacks a character as emotive as Emily Blunt’s Kate Macer — that absence is felt throughout.”

— Stephanie Zacharek, Time magazine (Rotten Tomatoes)

For fans of the franchise, the trade-off is clear: the sequel delivers action but loses the moral weight that made the original a critical darling. Those who miss Blunt may find hope in a third film — if a compelling script brings her back. Otherwise, the series will continue down a darker, less complex path.

Frequently asked questions

For the franchise faithful, the decision is simple: embrace the new path without Blunt, or hold out hope that a third film will reunite the original cast. The script will decide.