Once planned to be a series of standalone stories, the hit horror-thriller franchise The Purge is set to take focus on Frank Grillo's character, Leo Barnes, in its sixth installment. Grillo made his first appearance in the series in 2013's The Purge: Anarchy. Anarchy was the first follow-up to the original 2012 film, which starred Ethan Hawke and grossed $89.3 million on a budget of just $3 million. The franchise has continued to be a success for Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions, sparking anticipation for a new entry.

In an interview with Empire Magazine ahead of the publication's February 2023 issue, Grillo talked about the status of The Purge 6 and detailed what director James DeMonaco and his team have planned for his character Leo Barnes. DeMonaco was at the helm for each of the first three entries in the series and wrote all five films. Grillo confirmed that the next movie would be his last in The Purge universe, and they're currently trying to get the movie off the ground at Universal. In the excerpt released by Empire, no timeline was given for production.

"I had an idea in my head about how I should look, and how I'm gonna hold my guns. All that stuff I planned out. That solidified me as a guy who could carry a mid-level action movie. And the director, James DeMonaco, changed my life. [I've] got one more left. James has the script. It focuses on the Leo Barnes character, and he wants to direct it. We're working with Universal to see if we can pull this off before I'm in the old folks' home."

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Everything We Know About The Purge 6

Frank Grillo as Leo Barnes in The Purge Anarchy

It had been rumored that The Purge 6 would focus on Leo Barnes, but Frank Grillo's comments confirm that will be the film's scope. This indicates that it could be a personal character story. Last year, Grillo told The Playlist, "I love doing the 'Purge' movies…They called me and said James wanted to direct one more, and I'm like, 'Don't even tell me. I'm in,'" so there appears to be a lot of excitement surrounding the project, at least from its leading actor. It's expected that the new film will explore the deeper aspects of Grillo's character, a police officer who seeks out revenge for the death of his son in The Purge: Anarchy. He returns in the third film as Chief of Security for Elizabeth Mitchell's Senator Charlie Roan. The next purge could expand beyond the United States.

DeMonaco stepping back in to direct the film is equally promising. He served as director for The Purge, The Purge: Anarchy, and The Purge: Election Year, the three best-reviewed series entries. DeMonaco confirmed last year that the film would take place ten years after 2021's The Forever Purge. The events of the film left America divided, according to DeMonaco. He has stated that he takes inspiration from real-world sociopolitical events for The Purge, mentioning the January 6th riots when discussing the sixth installment. The next film could be set in an entirely state-run version of the United States, with the federal government likely still in shambles after the previous purge.

No other details are known about The Purge 6, but this update from the film's leading actor gives fans of the series something to look forward to as the film starts to come together. Grillo's comments suggest that things are moving in the right direction, meaning that the wait for Leo Barnes' next chapter in The Purge is finally starting to come to an end.

More: The Purge Movies: How To Watch In Chronological Order

Source: Empire Magazine