Will There Be a ‘Young Guns 3’? Lou Diamond Phillips Reveals Details (Exclusive)
What To Know
- Lou Diamond Phillips reunited with Young Guns costars Emilio Estevez and Tom Cruise, who had a hidden cameo in the film.
- Phillips confirmed that a third installment of the Young Guns franchise is in development
- Estevez will write and direct, though the original writer and producer, John Fusco, is involved in the project.
Lou Diamond Phillips has been stirring things up on the HBO comedy The Chair Company, as he stepped into the role of Jeff Levjman, the no-nonsense CEO of Fisher Robay and the boss of Tim Robinson‘s hapless Ron Trosper. Longtime fans of Phillips recognized the actor immediately, thanks to his unmistakable presence and the commanding screen energy that has defined his work for decades.
Sarah Shatz / ©HBO / Courtesy Everett Collection
Recently, fans of Phillips’ early — and arguably best-known — work in Young Guns were treated to a surprise reunion at the Governors Awards honoring Tom Cruise, who was on hand to receive an honorary Oscar. Both Phillips and his co-star Emilio Estevez attended the event to pay tribute to Cruise, who made a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in the 1988 film after visiting Estevez, with whom he shared a screen in The Outsiders.
Phillips posted a pic of the mini-reunion on social media, which caused a stir among fans:
Unreal. To think these three guys first met in the late 80s. What a trip it’s been. Massive congrats to Tom and it is always a joy to see Emilio! (Yes, I’ll be seeing a lot more of him soon!) Forever grateful! #GovernorsAwards @TheAcademy pic.twitter.com/hgUmvxfz8u
— Lou Diamond Phillips (@LouDPhillips) November 18, 2025
Phillips played the charismatic and rebellious José Chávez y Chávez in both Young Guns and 1990’s Young Guns II, a member of Billy the Kid’s (Estevez) gang of Regulators who meets his maker in the sequel.
While chatting with TV Insider, we asked Phillips about the reunion, as well as the potential future of the franchise.
“At that time, Tom said, ‘You know, I’ve never been shot.’ [Emilio] goes, ‘Can we shoot you?’ And so Tom goes through that massive makeup. We put mutton chops on him and a big hat and totally disguise him. And yet if you freeze frame it right at the moment you get shot, you can see that famous Tom Cruise profile,” revealed Phillips.
Here’s Tom Cruise getting merc’d in his Young Guns cameo: pic.twitter.com/TEYt0qcmo8
— Westerns & the Old West (@DavidLambertArt) September 2, 2024
And as for Young Guns 3? “I had a wonderful conversation with Emilio about that at the Governor’s Awards,” said Phillips.
“I knew Tom was going to be there because, you know, we gave him an award, right? But it was such a blast to see Emilio, because yes, the Internet rumors are true. There is a Young Guns 3,” confirmed Phillips. “I’ve read the script. It is fantastic. Emilio wrote it.”
The original ‘Young Guns’: Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Lou Diamond Phillips (Courtesy of Everett Collection)
“John Fusco, the original writer and producer, is on board. I think he helped Emilio with the script. Emilio will direct,” said Philips about the project.
— Additional reporting by Leah Williams.
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