Red Dead Redemption 3 is probably years away at best, and there's no telling if it's currently in development. However, it seems improbable that Rockstar Games will completely abandon one of its main franchises after only two installments. The first two Red Dead Redemption games followed John Marston and Arthur Morgan, members of Dutch Van der Linde's gang, as they try and fail to escape the outlaw life. Red Dead Redemption 3 should follow the same thematic trends, but with one big change.
Sadie Adler is a major character in Red Dead Redemption 2 who joins the gang after the O'Driscolls kill her husband, and she's arguably its strongest member. While a lot of the gang was stuck in Guarma, Sadie stepped up and kept everyone safe until the leaders returned. She never backs down from a fight, and in the epilogue players learn that Sadie used her gunslinging skills to become a professional bounty hunter. She's definitely star material for Red Dead Redemption 3, but if Sadie stars in the game one major character might be left out: John Marston's son, Jack.
There Are Arguments For Both Jack and Sadie To Star in Red Dead Redemption 3
When players last saw Jack in Red Dead Redemption, he successfully hunted down his father's killer, FBI agent Edgar Ross. Jack exacts his revenge, but his ultimate fate is left up in the air. Fans of the franchise don't know if the FBI then hunted Jack down, or if he was able to do what no other Van der Linde member could and leave the outlaw life behind. While Sadie is a more appealing choice for Red Dead Redemption 3's lead, it might leave Jack's story unfinished.
Jack is probably the most obvious choice for the lead of Red Dead Redemption 3 based on the franchise's existing patterns. In chronological order, Arthur Morgan dies while helping his friend John Marston escape to freedom, and John stars in an epilogue where Arthur is avenged. Then, after building a ranch with his family, John is killed by the FBI and his son, Jack, avenges him in an epilogue. There's a clear pattern, and based on that Jack should be the star of Red Dead Redemption 3.
However, there's also a big argument for Sadie to take the lead instead. Perhaps most obviously, it's about time for Red Dead Redemption and Rockstar Games to feature a strong female protagonist, and Sadie is the perfect fit. Sadie's voice actress Alex McKenna has also said she wants to reprise her role as the lead character, so convincing her to come back likely wouldn't be a problem. There are some practical reasons why Sadie is a better choice than Jack, too.
Sadie Adler Is the Best Choice For Red Dead Redemption 3's Protagonist
Red Dead Redemption can't follow the same outline forever. If Jack was the protagonist of Red Dead Redemption 3, things would probably look similar to the previous games: he can't escape the outlaw life and gets himself killed, then someone avenges him in the epilogue. It's an impactful storyline, but if it's repeated for the third time it would likely be too predictable and lose some of its potency.
Sadie also has a lot of stories left to tell, and her situation at the end of Red Dead Redemption 2 lends itself well to a sequel with all the gameplay that would have to come with it. Sadie is a bounty hunter, but she's also a former outlaw who has endured a lot of loss in her life. Sadie also mentioned she could be heading to South America, which would be a major change of scenery.
It's rare to see a character like Sadie in video games, and to this day she might make the biggest impression out of all of Rockstar's characters. Sadie is unforgettable for many fans and steals every scene she's in; that kind of character needs their own game. There's also a way to go with Sadie's arc. While she is seemingly content with her life as a bounty hunter, she works on her own and doesn't seem like she's ever really found rest. Maybe she can't after what she's been through, and there's a lot of story potential there.
Jack Could Easily Come Alongside Sadie in Red Dead Redemption 3
Having Sadie cast in the leading role of Red Dead Redemption 3 would mean players get to spend less time with Jack, and wouldn't experience as much of his story through their own eyes. However, that doesn't mean that Jack has to be absent from the story altogether. In fact, he shouldn't be.
There are several other members of the Van der Linde gang that are still alive at the end of Red Dead Redemption, including Jack, Sadie, and Charles Smith. It would be a massive missed opportunity to not include all three of those characters in the next game, no matter who the star ends up being.
If Sadie were to be the lead, that wouldn't have to mean forgetting all about Jack and his story. It would just mean viewing his story through Sadie's eyes rather than Jack's own, which wouldn't be a bad thing at all. It would be great to see Sadie show up and help Jack find his way when he's older, or for Sadie to take a bounty hunter contract on Jack and then refuse to complete it once she realizes who he is. There are lots of ways the story could go, and even if Sadie is headed to South America it seems unlikely the whole game would take place there.
Some players would probably be disappointed if the next Red Dead Redemption game didn't focus on Jack's story, but there's a lot to be said for keeping things fresh - and it doesn't necessarily mean saying goodbye to Jack altogether. The Van der Linde gang always seems to find one another, and that fact wouldn't change with Sadie as a protagonist in Red Dead Redemption 3.