Young GunsandYoung Guns IIwriter John Fusco has teased that a third movie is finally in the works with Emilio Estevez returning as Billy the Kid. Taking to Twitter, Fusco revealed poster artwork for a movie calledYoung Guns III: Alias: Billy the Kid. In the caption, the screenwriter announces that he’s working with Estevez on bringingYoung Guns IIIto life to turn the cult classic movie series into a trilogy.
“Emilio Estevezand I are excited to be collaborating on this continuation of the Billy the Kid saga - and you’re going to love where it goes,” Fusco writes.
John Fuscoalso tags original stars Lou Diamond Phillips, Kiefer Sutherland, and Christian Slater, suggesting they all could be returning along with Estevez. Phillips later tweeted an article about the news, seemingly confirming his involvement. Interestingly, Fusco also tags Vincent D’Onofrio, Chris Pratt, and rapper Warren G.
Fusco also tweeted an image of himself alongside Estevez filmingYoung Guns IIto further tease the upcoming sequel. In the caption, he writes, “Me and Emilio on the Mexico border in 1989, discussing a scene during the filming of #YoungGuns 2. At the end of the shoot, he gave me his 1881 Colt Lightning. Guess I will need to give it back to him. No surrender for #BillytheKid.”
“There is many a slip twixt the cup and the lip -William H. Bonney,” reads a follow-up tweet from Fusco with another image of Emilio.
Written by Fusco and directed by Christopher Cain,Young Gunswas released in theaters in 1988. A biographical Western starring Emilio Estevez asBilly the Kid, the movie also stars Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlie Sheen, Dermot Mulroney, and Casey Siemaszko. It follows a group of deputies led by Billy the Kid on a mission to avenge the murder of their benefactor. Premiering in the No. 1 post at the box office, the movie would go on to gross over $45 million at the box office against a budget of $11 million, making it a big success.
In 1990, the sequelYoung Guns IIwas released. Geoff Murphy took over directing duties, though Fusco returned to write the screenplay. Estevez, Sutherland, and Phillips also returned, and newcomers to the cast included Christian Slater, William Petersen, James Coburn, Viggo Mortensen, and Scott Wilson. This time, Billy the Kid is on the run as federal agents pursue the outlaw and his associates for their crimes. We can presume the third movie will take place years after these events, long after Billy had apparently faked his death.
Beyond Fusco’s teases on Twitter, there’s not yet any other information for us to go on withYoung Guns III. Still, for fans of the original movies, it’s good to know that the sequel finally seems to be making some traction after years of stalling in development hell. In the meantime, Emilio fans can also look forward to seeing Estevez return to another classic role with the release ofThe Mighty Ducks: Game Changerson Disney+ this year. This news comes to us fromJohn Fusco on Twitter.
