"Sicario" star Emily Blunt will not be in the film's sequel "Soldado" as previously reported and screenwriter Taylor Sheridan has a good explanation. He cannot give her talent justice anymore, so he made the decision.
"Her arc was complete," Sheridan told The Wrap. "I couldn't figure out a way to write a character that would do her talent justice."
In fairness to Blunt, Sheridan added she had a difficult role, one he used as a surrogate of the lead character to the viewers. Her character was made passive, dragged through hell and betrayed in the end. The journey was arduous for both the character and its actress.
"Sicario" also stars Josh Brolin and Benicio del Toro who will be reprising their respective roles in the sequel as Matt Graver and Alejandro Gillick. Brolin and Toro's characters followed FBI agent Kate Macer played by Blunt, who was tasked by the government to bring down a Mexican cartel. Macer later learned her teammates were perhaps as corrupt as those they are chasing.
Macer may move to a little town, becomes a sheriff then gets kidnapped. Sheridan is lost of what to do next with Blunt's character as he wants a story for her that was true to the role. He could not give justice to the character and thinks that there could be a room for Macer somewhere else.
On the other hand, Graver and Gillick are perfect for exploration as a lot more could be done with them. They do not arc and are no different from the beginning of the film to the end, Sheridan told LRM in another interview.
The screenwriter added the two characters are constant, and designed to be great mysteries. The more viewers learn about the two characters, the less they understand them. When one thinks they are one thing, they will turn out to be something else.
Crime thriller "Sicario" is one of the biggest surprise sleeper hits in 2015. The movie earned a gross of $47 million domestically and $37 million overseas.
"Sicario" earned several nominations at the 2015 Oscars, including Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing and Best Cinematography. For "Soldado," it will have Stefano Sollima as the director since Denis Villeneuve will not be returning for the directorial seat. It is looking for a 2017 release.
Check out Villenueve's 2015 film below: