Almost eight years on from teasing fans with the first page of the script, The Boondock Saints III is set to become a reality with Deadline revealing that writer-director Troy Duffy will reunite with Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus to continue the story of brothers Connor and Murphy MacManus with the the long-awaited third instalment in the cult classic series.
“The fans have loved these characters for 20 years,” said Duffy. “They use terms of endearment like ‘the Brothers’ or ‘the Boys.’ We left them in jail at the end of Boondock 2 and fans want to know what happened to them. Norman and Sean have been a driving force to keep this franchise on track and break some new ground story-wise. The fans have been waiting. They literally ask about it daily, and I am really excited to be working with Impossible Dream to make Boondock III a reality.”
The Boondock Saints starred Flanery and Reedus as the McManus brothers, twins who become vigilantes after killing two Russian mobsters in self-defense. Duffy’s debut film, it endured a turbulent production and found itself limited to a handful of theatrical screenings in the wake of the Columbine High School massacre, but went on to become a huge success on home video and quickly developed a cult following. A sequel, The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, was released in 2009.
As reported by Deadline, the hope is to capitalise on fervent fanbase of the first two movies to launch a John Wick-style global action franchise, with producer Yvette Yates Redick of Impossible Dream Entertainment stating that: “Regardless of whether or not someone has seen the first two films, Saints III will blow them away. Moreover, this is a proud comeback moment for Troy — a storyteller who has demonstrated humility and resilience in the face of adversity and emerged more focused and determined than ever to continue the Boondock Saints story. We’re proud to back him and his authentic vision for this franchise.”