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Summary

  • The Boondock Saints 3 is confirmed without original director Troy Duffy.
  • Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery will reprise their roles as the MacManus brothers.
  • The upcoming film promises a new generation of 'Saints' in a reimagining of the story.

The first two movies have a strong cult following, and now The Boondock Saints 3 is coming to revive the series after more than a decade. Perhaps one of the most famous independent films of all time, 1999's The Boondock Saints follows two Irish-Catholic brothers in Boston who decide to take the law into their own hands and become blood-soaked vigilantes. Its notoriously turbulent production and violent storytelling drew an interested audience, and The Boondock Saints became an instant cult hit.

The movie's stylish action sequences and dark comedy struck a chord with viewers, though it took a while for a sequel to come together. Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery both returned for 2009's The Boondock Saints II: All Saint's Day, where the brothers return from exile to face a figure from their father's past. The Boondock Saints II ended with a surprise cameo by Willem Dafoe as his character Paul Smecker, which set up a potential sequel where the brothers' murderous activities would be backed by the Church. Given the enduring cult fandom for the series, the newly announced The Boondock Saints 3 seems like a sure-fire hit.

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The Boondock Saints 3 Latest News

The Sequel Is Confirmed Once Again

Billy Connelly Norman Reedus  and Sean Patrick Flanery walk through a church in Boondock Saints 2 All Saints Day

Though rumblings have been happening on and off since 2009, the latest news confirms that The Boondock Saints 3 is happening. Along with the announcement that the threequel was finally happening, it was also revealed that Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery would return to reprise their roles as brothers Connor and Murphy MacManus. The new sequel, which has been called a reimagining, will not be directed by series creator Troy Duffy, who has opted to step away from the films. Little else is known at this point, except that the story will involve an "indoctrination of new 'Saints'."

Stream The Boondock Saints on Peacock, and stream The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day on Pluto TV.

The Boondock Saints 3 Is Confirmed

The First Sequel Since 2009

The MacManus brothers fire their pistols around Rocco's head in The Boondock Saints

The life of the Boondock Saints franchise has been up and down since the release of 2009's The Boondock Saints 2, and the possibility of a sequel seemed bleak. However, in March 2024 it was confirmed that The Boondock Saints 3 is happening, and that original director and writer Troy Duffy will not helm the film. It's unknown who will helm the project, and very few other details have been revealed thus far.

The Boondock Saints 3 Cast

Reedus & Flanery Return As The Vengeful MacManus Brothers

Along with the announcement that the sequel was finally happening, it was confirmed that the franchise's leads, Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery, would once again be on hand to play the revenge-seeking MacManus twins. Reedus' turn as Murphy MacManus was one of the Walking Dead star's breakout roles, and Flanery's turn as Connor was yet another feather in the 1990s icon's cap.

It's unclear if Willem Dafoe will reprise his Boondock Saints role as Paul Smecker, but the conclusion of The Boondock Saints 2 implied he would be back. The new film will likely feature a slate of new "Saints" as the story is described as a reimagining, and the brothers will also need new villains to fight against.

The Boondock Saints 3 Story

A New Generation Of 'Saints' Is Promised

The MacManus twins look at something offscreen in The Boondock Saints 2

Though little is known about the story of the upcoming third movie, it has been revealed that it will involve the "indoctrination of new 'Saints'" meaning a new generation of crime fighters is on the horizon. Perhaps the MacManus brothers will become the inspiration for more vigilantes to take up their cause, and their quest for vengeance could become a city-wide endeavor. The movie is also described as a reimagining, suggesting some soft rebooting might happen.

None of the Boondock Saints films have fared well with critics, and there's a chance that The Boondock Saints 3 will take a new approach that steps away from Troy Duffy's style. The modern phenomenon of legacy sequels could serve as an inspiration for the latest film by incorporating the best elements of the first two movies and discarding the parts that never worked in the first place.

The Boondock Saints Movie Poster Showing Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery Smoking Cigarettes with Sunglasses
The Boondock Saints 3

The Boondock Saints 3 is the third film in the crime thriller franchise starring Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery. The film is said to be a reimagining for the franchise, with the original director Troy Duffy not returning.