Den of Thieves 3 May Be Sooner Than You Think

by Annika January 11, 2025

After 15 years of obstacles and setbacks, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera has finally arrived in theaters. Writer-director Christian Gudegast, the patient mastermind behind the heist film franchise, reveals that the sequel was already in motion before the first film’s unexpected popularity. With the second film now in theaters, Gudegast is ready to continue the franchise with a third installment already pitched and ready to go. Despite the challenges of production over the years, Gudegast is grateful for the opportunity to bring his vision to the big screen and is hopeful for the future of the franchise.

Den of Thieves 3 May Be Sooner Than You Think

– Den of Thieves 2, the sequel to the 2018 film, faced numerous obstacles during production, including bankruptcy, the pandemic, and location issues due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
– The sequel is set two years after the first film and follows Gerard Butler’s character as he teams up with O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s character for a heist at the World Diamond Center in Nice, France.
– The film’s writer-director, Christian Gudegast, already has plans for a third installment and is confident about its potential.

Christian Gudegast, the writer-director of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, has certainly faced his fair share of challenges. The first film, released in 2018, took 15 years to make it to the big screen due to various obstacles, including the bankruptcy of Relatively Media. Despite mixed reviews, the film became a box office success, thanks in large part to its strong home market performance and engaged social media fanbase.

While Gudegast is grateful for the support of the audience, he reveals that plans for a sequel were already in motion before the film’s popularity soared. Development on Den of Thieves 2 began in February 2018, with Gudegast conducting extensive research to inform the fictional narrative. However, the production faced setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Gerard Butler’s physical complications. Additionally, the film had to be postponed again due to the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on their planned locations. After considering France and facing financial challenges, the production ultimately settled on Tenerife, Spain.

Despite these hurdles, Den of Thieves 2 is now in theaters, nearly seven years after the release of the first film. The story picks up two years later, with Butler’s character “Big Nick” still on the trail of Donnie’s criminal activities overseas. However, Gudegast takes a surprising twist by having Big Nick “go gangster” himself, as the unlikely duo plans to rob the World Diamond Center in Nice, France.

While Gudegast wishes that more plot details were kept under wraps in the film’s marketing, he understands the need for conventional teaser trailers to help market and sell the film. He remains confident in the success of the sequel and reveals that a threequel has already been pitched and is ready to go.

During a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Gudegast also discusses how he initially connected with Gerard Butler through Den of Thieves and their collaboration on London Has Fallen. He explains that the first film’s success at the box office, coupled with its strong post-theatrical audience, played a significant role in securing a sequel. Gudegast had always planned for a franchise, with the intention of exploring major heists around the world and bringing the characters from film to film.

The sequel faced challenges during production, but Gudegast emphasizes that the script was a joy to work on. The real difficulties arose from the realities of production, such as finding suitable locations and adjusting the script to match the shooting schedule. However, Gudegast’s commitment to authenticity in details, such as the heists themselves and the use of practical locations, remained unchanged.

Gudegast also touches on the absence of Donnie’s friend, Mack, in the sequel, and explains that certain realities of shooting forced adjustments and rewriting of the script. He acknowledges that there is a link between the first film and the sequel, although it may not be immediately apparent to viewers.

Reflecting on his experience making Den of Thieves 2, Gudegast reveals the challenges faced during key scenes, such as the car chase involving a Porsche Taycan and the final heist in the World Diamond Center’s elevator shaft. Despite the obstacles, he remains optimistic about the future and has already pitched a threequel.