Gerard Butler Filmed ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’ With a Torn ACL

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Den of Thieves 2: Panthera Hits Theaters This Week, Six Years After the Debut in 2018

Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr., reunite for another pulse-pounding adventure in this sequel. After the success of the first film, which was applauded by action enthusiasts for its nail-biting shootouts, these two unlikely partners are back for another daring heist.

Despite a seriously injured knee, Gerard Butler’s determination played a significant role in bringing Den of Thieves 2 to the big screen this weekend, as it aims to outperform its competitors at the box office.

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Butler disclosed that he suffered a severe knee injury while filming “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera“. Specifically, he completely ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which is crucial for swift knee movements. Sports enthusiasts understand that a torn ACL can sideline an athlete for the entire season or potentially impact their career long-term. Despite this major setback, Butler pressed on and performed all the action-packed scenes with his injured ligament. To fix the injury, surgery will be needed, but unfortunately, he couldn’t undergo it during the main filming period.

During the initial stages of this film, I found myself in an unusual situation as I had recently undergone a demanding surgery and just about a month later, I sustained a full tear on my ACL. This led to me starting the movie in less than ideal condition, as it was quite a physically demanding production. Unfortunately, I couldn’t have my ACL surgery at that time, so I ended up making the film with an injured ACL, which was quite challenging.

In my humble opinion as a movie critic, Butler’s character in “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” faces a harrowing ordeal that he describes as a “nightmare.” Jokingly, he admits to being a tad whiny during those tough times. However, should this action-packed series continue to expand into sequels and a full-fledged franchise, I have no doubt that Butler will swiftly forget about his torn ACL and be back in top form.

The Future of ‘Den of Thieves’ is Bright

If audiences turn out in large numbers for “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” during its debut weekend, it seems that additional sequels may be forthcoming. In an interview with MovieWeb, producer Tucker Tooley hinted at the possibility of more follow-ups, stating that each installment is crafted to maintain an open-ended storyline for future chapters. Although he did not disclose specifics about how new installments will continue the “Pantera” narrative, the intentions behind “Den of Thieves” are evident.

We’ve got a solid plan for the next step, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise. The progression from the initial movie to this one, and onwards, has always been part of a larger series. This franchise is all about intricate and ingenious heists, with characters that feel real and relatable. There’s depth in their performances, so you can truly connect with them. If this film performs well, we will definitely consider making another one.

Initially, “Den of Thieves” earned $80 million globally on a production budget of $30 million, more than recovering its costs and generating profit. In contrast, the newly released “Pantera”, estimated to cost $40 million, is anticipated to earn less during its opening weekend compared to its predecessor. The original movie debuted with $15 million, while its follow-up, “Pantera”, is projected to make around $14 million. However, it’s important to note that the initial film was initially predicted to gross under $10 million, suggesting the sequel’s forecast might be underestimating this weekend’s possible earnings.

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2025-01-09 23:35