The recent success of Taylor Sheridan’s new series, “Landman” Season 2, which garnered nearly 10 million viewers on Paramount+, has sparked a renewed interest among fans in one of his earlier, often underrated film projects. This resurgence of attention is directed towards the 2018 action sequel, “Sicario: Day of the Soldado,” which saw Sheridan return to the intense world he crafted for the original “Sicario.”

“Sicario: Day of the Soldado” stars Josh Brolin and Benicio del Toro, reprising their roles in a narrative that further escalates the brutal drug war between the United States and Mexico. While the film is exclusively available for streaming on Starz in America, it has recently become accessible globally on Netflix, where it has quickly climbed into the top 10 in over 10 countries worldwide, indicating its international appeal.

The production of “Sicario: Day of the Soldado” occurred during a period when film budgets were comparatively lower than today. Lionsgate produced the movie for a modest $35 million, and its global box office total of $75 million was sufficient to ensure profitability. However, the film received a mixed critical reception, earning a 62% score from critics and a 66% from audiences, figures that stand notably below the highly acclaimed 91% from critics and 85% from audiences achieved by its predecessor. The sequel also saw significant cast changes, with Emily Blunt and Daniel Kaluuya not returning, though Isabela Merced joined the cast in a leading role.

The directorial helm for the sequel also changed hands; after sci-fi visionary Denis Villeneuve directed the first “Sicario,” Lionsgate brought in Stefano Sollima for “Day of the Soldado.” Interestingly, Taylor Sheridan himself has publicly disclosed that the studio expressed dissatisfaction with his creative process for the film. This stemmed from his reclusive approach to writing the script, as he famously informed executives he would return to his ranch in Texas to write and submit the final draft when ready.

Exciting news for fans of the franchise emerged recently when Josh Brolin confirmed that Taylor Sheridan is indeed working on the script for a third “Sicario” movie. Brolin made this revelation during the press tour for his new horror film, “Weapons,” now streaming on HBO Max. Despite this confirmation, it may be some time before Sheridan can fully dedicate himself to “Sicario 3.” He is currently deeply involved in other major projects, including a new action movie titled “F.A.S.T.” and has also been tapped to write the script for a “Call of Duty” movie under development at Paramount.

“Sicario: Day of the Soldado” was released on June 29, 2018, with a runtime of 122 minutes. Directed by Stefano Sollima and written by Taylor Sheridan, it is a prequel to the original “Sicario.” The cast included Jake Picking and Jeffrey Donovan, among others, and the film falls under the genres of Drama, Crime, and Thriller.