Despite their characters meeting untimely ends in the second installment, both Lou Diamond Phillips and Christian Slater are set to make a surprising return in the highly anticipated Young Guns 3.

After years of speculation and fan hopes, the production of Young Guns 3 appears to be officially underway. Emilio Estevez, one of the original cast members, revealed the exciting news during the Film and Media Day at the New Mexico State Capitol. He stated, “We’ve started the ball rolling on Young Guns 3,” and humorously acknowledged the playful jabs about the film’s title, including ”Old Guns, Ancient Guns. You can hold on to those.” An official press release from New Mexico’s governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, confirmed the film’s title as Young Guns 3: Dead or Alive, indicating that Estevez will direct the movie himself, with filming taking place in New Mexico. Estevez has also collaborated with franchise writer John Fusco on the script.

The announcement also includes the return of Lou Diamond Phillips and Christian Slater, a detail that might spark intrigue among fans of the series. This is particularly fascinating because both characters faced grim fates in Young Guns 2. As you may recall, Phillips’s character, Chavez, suffered a mortal wound and rode off, presumably to his demise, while Slater’s Arkansas Dave was said to have been beheaded in Mexico, though this event was not visually depicted in the film. It was only revealed later in the epilogue. In contrast, Estevez’s character, Billy the Kid, managed to escape his historically accepted fate, having been allowed to flee by Pat Garrett, portrayed by William Petersen.

Interest in a Young Guns 3 has been prevalent over the past few years, but it seems Estevez is genuinely committed to bringing this project to life this time around. His decision to take on the role of director aligns well with his past accomplishments, which include directing critically acclaimed films such as Bobby, The Public, and The Way, the latter featuring his father. It’s exciting to imagine the possibility of reuniting with other franchise favorites like Kiefer Sutherland and Charlie Sheen, even though their characters have more definitive endings in the series.

Are you eagerly anticipating the release of Young Guns 3? Share your excitement and thoughts with us in the comments below!