Young Guns 3: Dead or Alive will be filmed in New Mexico, 35 years after the release of Young Guns 2.

      The Young Guns may not be as youthful as they once were, but they're coming together again for Young Guns 3: Dead or Alive, which will be filmed in New Mexico, featuring Emilio Estevez, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Christian Slater for another adventure.

      Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico announced the project alongside Estevez, who will co-write, direct, and star in the film, during the Film and Media Day at the State Capitol in Santa Fe. Estevez is set to reprise his role as Billy the Kid, while Phillips will return as Chavez y Chavez, a character he portrayed in both Young Guns and Young Guns 2. Slater will also reprise his role as Arkansas Dave Rudabaugh from Young Guns 2.

      The upcoming film will introduce a new generation of regulators.

      The original Young Guns films, which debuted in 1988 and 1990, were shot in New Mexico and played a significant role in building the state’s reputation in the film industry.

      Lujan Grisham commented, “The original Young Guns films highlighted New Mexico’s breathtaking landscapes to the world and helped establish our state as a top filming destination. Young Guns 3: Dead or Alive will enhance this legacy, reinforcing New Mexico’s standing in the national film industry.”

      Background on Young Guns 3

      Young Guns 3 is the latest among a series of sequels that are being released decades after their predecessors, including last year’s Gladiator 2 and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

      This sequel feels like a logical continuation, as Young Guns 2 effectively set up the story for this new installment by putting Estevez in old-age makeup to conclude the narrative of how Pat Garrett (William Peterson) tracked down and was said to have shot Billy the Kid. It stands out as one of the few classic Westerns from the Gen X era.

      Lujan Grisham further stated, “This production embodies the essence of what our film incentives aim to attract—high-quality projects that generate employment for New Mexicans while highlighting our state’s exceptional beauty.”

      These incentives contributed to Albuquerque being ranked the No. 1 large city and Santa Fe the No. 1 small town in our recent list of the Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker.

      Steve Graham, director of the New Mexico Film Office, remarked, “Young Guns 3: Dead or Alive will hire hundreds of local crew members, actors, and support staff and will utilize local vendors and businesses, resulting in significant economic activity across our state.”

      Young Guns 3: Dead or Alive is co-written by Emilio Estevez and John Fusco, produced by Morgan Creek, and packaged by CAA.

      Main image: Emilio Estevez, Christian Slater, and Lou Diamond Phillips in Young Guns 2. Twentieth Century Fox.