Emily Blunt’s Kate Macer was the protagonist in Sicario, but did not return for the sequel, and a key line from the first movie may finally reveal why. Directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Taylor Sheridan, Sicario follows FBI agent Kate Macer as she is pulled into the dark and violent world of the drug cartels. Her involvement with a shady covert operation, led by CIA agent Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and secretive operative Alejandro (Benicio del Toro), exposes her to the dark reality of how these modern wars are fought and the moral grayness of the operation.
Sicario: Day of the Soldado put Alejandro in more of the protagonist role, with Matt also returning. Kate was notably absent from the movie, with no mention of her being made. Since Sicario 2 was released, there have been calls for a third movie that could bring Kate back into the franchise in order to complete her story. However, a memorable line from the first movie could hint at why Kate wasn’t in Sicario 2 and why she may not be able to return for Sicario 3.
Sicario’s Ending Teased Emily Blunt’s Kate Dying Before The Sequel
Alejandro’s Final Line May Suggest Kate Was Doomed
The end of Sicario features a final scene between Kate and Alejandro following their tense mission. Kate had learned the truth about the operation: that the CIA was helping a drug cartel take out a rival cartel in order to bring about more order in the dangerous drug world. This was capped off with Alejandro getting revenge for the deaths of his wife and daughter at the hands of a cartel boss, executing him and his entire family. While Kate insists she is going to reveal everything, Alejandro comes to change her mind.
After threatening her at gunpoint to sign a statement indicating that the operation was completely legal, Alejandro tells Kate:
“You should move to a small town where the rule of law still exists. You will not survive here. You are not a wolf. And this is the land of wolves now.”
While a perfect final line for the bleak thriller, the line could hint that Kate was actually killed after the events of Sicario. Following Alejandro’s final line, Kate pulls a gun on him but is unable to shoot him, suggesting that he is right and that she does not have what it takes to go up against the ruthless evil that operates in this world. While Alejandro suggests that she leave, Kate doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would run away, even if she thought he was right.
She was wrong, and Alejandro was right, and having her die only made Alejandro’s point all the more clear.
It would also feel fitting for the tone of the story if Kate stayed and tried to make a difference in the noble and just way that she believed in, only to die in the process. Sicario clearly makes Kate the character the audience should sympathize with, but they also make it so that she loses in the end. She was wrong, and Alejandro was right, and having her die only made Alejandro’s point all the more clear.
It is also possible that Alejandro’s final line was not some vague suggestion about the dangers of this world, but rather a more direct warning. Kate had previously threatened to talk about what their operation truly was, which Matt seemed to take very seriously. Alejandro made it clear that Kate would be killed if she didn’t sign the statement. However, it is possible that Alejandro was suggesting Matt and the CIA may still want to silence her, just in case. It makes for a chilling possibility that this heroic character died a tragic death off-screen.
Could Sicario 3 Work Without Emily Blunt Returning?
Sicario 3 Should Finish The Story The Franchise Started
While having Kate Macer die in between Sicario and Sicario 2 would make sense for the tone of the movie, Sicario 3 feels pointless without her. Sicario 2 ended with Alejandro surviving being sH๏τ in the face and once again entering the drug world as a rogue operative. While he is a compelling character, the sequel proved that he works better in a supporting role. Sicario had him operating in the shadows, with his motivations unclear.
So, while it might be more fitting for the story if she met a tragic end, it would also be rewarding to see her return and continue to fight evil in her own way while proving that Alejandro was wrong about her.
By contrast, Kate made for an ideal protagonist, helping bring the audience into this world and shedding light on the dark areas. This dynamic could be even more intriguing if Kate and Alejandro meet up again in Sicario 3. Kate would be more aware of the world she was stepping into, and Alejandro would be seen as more of a danger to her this time around.
Emily Blunt’s performance in Sicario is incredibly powerful, highlighting the determination that got Kate to where she is in her career, but also presenting her fear as a grounded aspect of the character. It was devastating to see her lose in the end after hanging onto her beliefs so strongly. So, while it might be more fitting for the story if she met a tragic end, it would also be rewarding to see her return and continue to fight evil in her own way while proving that Alejandro was wrong about her.
