As a seasoned movie enthusiast and someone who has seen more than their fair share of January releases, I must say that the upcoming sequel to Den of Thieves, titled Pantera, has piqued my interest. Having grown up watching action-packed movies during the winter doldrums, I can tell you from experience that these films often offer a much-needed escape from the cold and the humdrum.
Throughout his approximately 30-year film career, Gerard Butler has established himself as one of the leading figures in mid-budget action films. The Scottish actor has been a consistent presence on the big screen since his American debut in the 2007 movie 300, despite generally receiving lukewarm reviews from critics. However, Butler continues to be a reliable box office performer, often starring in movies that exceed their modest budgets. Notable exceptions to this are larger franchises like How to Train Your Dragon or the trilogy of Olympus Has Fallen, London Has Fallen, and Angel Has Fallen, but few of his films have prompted sequels. This is set to change with the upcoming movie, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera.
The movie titled “Panther” is a follow-up to the 2018 action-heist film “Den of Thieves“, which was released during the quiet January cinema season and received mixed reviews but managed to earn $80 million on a budget of $30 million. The original film stars Butler as Detective Nick “Big Nick” O’Brien, a tough L.A. cop determined to prevent a group of ex-military bank robbers from stealing from the Federal Reserve in Los Angeles, leading to chaos and destruction. Although details about its reception are still unclear, some information regarding its plot, cast, and release date have been disclosed. Here’s what we currently know about “Den of Thieves 2: Panther“.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’s Plot
Scant details have emerged regarding the plot of “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera,” but it is known that the story will continue immediately following the events of the initial film, with Detective O’Brien, played by Gerard Butler, in pursuit of Donnie Wilson (portrayed by O’Shea Jackson Jr.), one of the bank robbers who eluded capture. Initially appearing to be a mere getaway driver in the first movie, Wilson was ultimately unmasked as the main architect of the heist by the film’s conclusion, slipping away to London and setting his sights on a diamond exchange for his next target.
According to the trailer unveiled in September, Den of Thieves 2 finds O’Brien pursuing Wilson across Europe. Their target this time isn’t an escaped criminal but rather a new crew planning to rob the World Diamond Center, a heist that promises even greater risks than their previous job at the LA Federal Reserve. Instead of confronting his nemesis, it appears that O’Brien and Wilson will team up, albeit uneasily, as O’Brien becomes an active participant in the heist. The question is whether O’Brien has fully embraced a life of crime or is merely using this opportunity to get closer to his objective.
Den of Thieves 2’s Production Delays
As reported by The Ringer in an account of the movie’s trailer, there has been ongoing development on a Den of Thieves sequel since soon after the initial film was released. The original director, Christian Gudegast, had discussions with Gerard Butler about creating another installment. According to Gudegast, Butler was initially occupied with directing the 2023 film Plane before coming back to Den of Thieves, but Gudegast opted to postpone their collaboration until they could work together on the sequel instead.
The COVID-19 outbreak caused a setback for the project timeline, while Butler’s commitments kept the team from starting work on the sequel until 2023. Filming took place in both the United Kingdom and the Canary Islands, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Following numerous postponements, the movie was eventually finished and scheduled for release on January 10th, 2025.
Den of Thieves 2’s January Release Might Work in Its Favor
January is known for being a challenging month when it comes to movie releases, as it follows the surge of big holiday premieres and contenders for Oscar recognition. Historically, it has been viewed as a place where studios release films they predict won’t do well, either because they have lost confidence in the final product or didn’t believe in it from the start. However, there have been exceptions to this trend, particularly for films that focus on providing simple and enjoyable entertainment rather than pursuing awards.
In 2008, the film “Taken” was launched on January 30th and surpassed expectations significantly, grossing a global box office of $227 million against a production cost of just $25 million. This led to the creation of a franchise and a resurgence in Liam Neeson’s action career. More recently, “M3GAN” premiered on January 6th, 2022, earning $181 million with a budget of only $12 million, receiving critical praise and becoming an internet sensation for its title robot character, establishing her as a new horror icon. On the lighter side, “Paddington” debuted in the US on January 16th, 2015, amassing $283 million worldwide against a budget of $65 million, garnering positive reviews and becoming a modern family movie favorite.
January films typically don’t carry as much weight in terms of audience expectations compared to summer blockbusters or holiday releases. This reduced expectation can sometimes work to a film’s advantage, allowing it to either shine or fall short without the same level of pressure as films released during peak seasons. It’s plausible that “_Den of Thieves 2: Pantera_” might follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, providing cinema-goers with an enjoyable escape from winter’s monotony.
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2024-11-13 03:31