`Den of Thieves 3: The Next Chapter?`

In January 2025, “Den of Thieves 2: Panther” proved to be another blockbuster for Gerard Butler. This sequel, directed by Christian Gudegast and featuring the return of O’Shea Jackson Jr., continued the action from the 2018 original and hinted at potential developments in the franchise’s ongoing cat-and-mouse tale. With audiences eagerly anticipating more, there’s a strong possibility that we might see “Den of Thieves 3“.

While nothing has been made official about the threequel (please be called Den of Thi3ves), the two stars at the top of the cast list and the director have all spoken quite a bit about the franchise’s future since Pantera was released. That being said, here’s a rundown of everything that’s been said about Den of Thieves 3 so far…

Director Christian Gudegast Has Said He’s ‘Feeling Very Good About’ Den Of Thieves 3

As Den of Thieves 2: Pantera garnered praise from critics, director Christian Gudegast began to field queries regarding the franchise’s future. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the filmmaker expressed positivity about a potential third movie, stating that the plotline had already been proposed.

Gudegast, who collaborated with Gerard Butler on films like “Plane” and “London Has Fallen,” as well as directing the initial “Den of Thieves,” wasn’t very forthcoming about future plans for the series or if we can expect more of Big Nick’s stylish cigarette-smashing exploits. However, it was an encouraging beginning.

In Fact, Gudegast Has Said Den Of Thieves 3 Is ‘All Ready To Go’

In January 2025, Gudegast engaged in a comprehensive conversation with Collider. The discussion encompassed various aspects such as his strategies for filmmaking, potential directions for the franchise if additional installments are produced, and a progress report on Den of Thieves 3.

Den 3 is fully prepared and organized. I make notes, create documents, and outline everything extensively. When it comes to writing the script, it’s mostly a matter of altering the format, so it’s all planned out for the next two.

Gudegast’s remarks imply that he may have some preliminary concepts for a fourth and fifth film, should they ever come to fruition. Given the strong opening box office performance of “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera”, it seems likely that we can expect more adventures featuring Big Nick and his donut-eating antics on crime scenes in the years ahead.

Christian Gudegast Has Said Den Of Thieves 3 Will Be ‘Geopolitical And Involve Art’

The initial film had a traditional, “Heat”-like structure centered around a heist, while the second movie shifted towards a buddy-action style featuring the compelling partnership between Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s characters. As for the future of the “Thieves” series according to Gudegast, it appears that international politics and art will be integrated into the franchise. In an interview with Daily Dose of Buffa in January 2025, he hinted at the third installment by suggesting:

This upcoming situation will have global political implications, with art playing a significant role. It revolves around valuable global assets. Prepare for an extraordinary turn of events. A new, formidable criminal network is emerging, and there are indications that Ukrainians might be implicated.

In the upcoming sequel, we’ll experience a fresh journey and a new setting. However, it seems that some characters from the initial movie will make a comeback. Interestingly enough, the director mentioned in an interview that he intends to reintroduce several cast members from the 2018 heist film, including The Regulators, who were once part of Nick’s team at the LASD.

Gerard Butler Has Teased That Den Of Thieves 3 Could Take Place In Africa

The franchise appears to follow a strategy for growth that’s reminiscent of the Fast and Furious series, encompassing more action, narrative, and diverse locations. If conversations with The Direct in January 2025 are anything to go by, the third movie could potentially transport the series to its most breathtakingly exotic location ever. Gerard Butler hinted that Africa might be the backdrop for this action-packed film.

It seems uncertain, as this proposed plan appears thrilling yet daunting, making me hesitant to voice opinions if we stick with the current plan. However, it involves Africa, which is brimming with intriguing possibilities. Unfortunately, my knowledge about it is limited, so I’m unsure of what role I could play alongside Nick.

The comments appear to align well with Gudegast’s statements regarding the film taking a more geopolitically-oriented approach compared to its predecessors. It will be intriguing to discover if the diamond plotline from Panthera might tie in with the fresh setting and narrative too.

Franchise Producer Tucker Tooley Teased ‘More Sequels’ When Discussing The Break Between The First Two Den Of Thieves Movies

The gap between the first and second films was quite significant, lasting seven years, but it seems that future projects may not face such a lengthy delay. During an interview with TopMob’s Sean O’Connell in January 2025, producer Tucker Tooley explained that the extended break was primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, actors sustaining injuries, and complications related to tax issues forcing changes in filming locations.

Beyond all that excitement, Tooley hinted at not one but two additional sequels in the pipeline for the future. This is fantastic news for fans of the franchise and Gerard Butler’s movies, as it seems we might be looking forward to more installments of Den of Thieves soon.

Gerard Butler And O’Shea Jackson Jr. Have Said They’d Love To Work With Idris Elba In The Third Movie

The “Den of Thieves” series has featured actors such as Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Pablo Schreiber, Salvatore Esposito, and many others thus far. However, leading actors Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. aspire to attract one of the most renowned celebrities globally for the potential third movie.

In a chat with Sean O’Connell from TopMob in January 2025, the two actors expressed their wish to collaborate with individuals who have worked on The Wire’s crew and have been linked with James Bond speculations throughout the years.

JACKSON: I’m cool with O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Gerard Butler in it, no problem! (laughs) But of course, anyone who wants to join the team. The decision largely depends on the audience, they’re the ones that usually push for a third one. A trilogy, if you will. There are plenty of talented action stars out there. I’d like to give a shout-out to Idris Elba, why not?
BUTLER: I’ve previously worked with Idris Elba, and he’s fantastic in every way, life or on screen. He’s an exceptional individual, an incredibly talented actor.

Introducing Idris Elba into the third edition could be an exhilarating twist for the series, whether portraying a virtuous character, an antagonist, or someone embodying the same enigmatic moral complexity as Big Nick. This move would undeniably elevate the franchise to unprecedented heights.

2025-02-02 17:08