Emilio Estevez first exploded onto the scene as the charismatic Billy the Kid in the original Young Guns back in 1988, a role that cemented his place among Hollywood’s most memorable Brat Pack actors. Born on May 12, 1962, in New York City to actor Martin Sheen, Estevez was determined to forge his own path and never ride on his father’s coattails. He cut his teeth in films like The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo’s Fire, but it was his portrayal of the young outlaw his first western lead that truly showcased his grit and screen presence.

Decades later, Estevez still carries a spark for cinematic storytelling, and it showed again when he stood before New Mexico lawmakers to announce he would both direct and star in Young Guns 3: Dead or Alive. In a heartfelt speech at the State Capitol’s Film and Media Day, he joked about hearing “Old Guns” quips but made it clear he was bringing the shoot back to the rugged New Mexico plains where the first two movies found their soul. With co-writer John Fusco by his side, Estevez is determined to expand Billy’s saga this time teasing a showdown where history’s greatest outlaw meets Pancho Villa while honoring the legacy of the western genre he fell in love with over thirty years ago.

Beyond the legend of Billy, Estevez’s journey has always been tied to a childhood fascination with filmmaking. As a boy, his father gifted the family a portable movie camera, and young Emilio spent hours staging backyard epics with siblings and friends, dreaming up scenes that belied his age. He refused to change his last name to “Sheen,” wanting his work to stand on its own a decision he still defends with pride. That same DIY spirit led him to write, direct, and star in his first feature, making him the youngest filmmaker ever to do so at the time. Today, as he prepares to reignite one of his most iconic roles, that blend of raw ambition and respectful homage to the craft still fuels everything he does.