(Updated 11/21/2024)
Some movies gain a lot of traction after their initial theatrical release, and you can never tell which ones might benefit from this process. Take DEN OF THIEVES, the gritty 2018 heist thriller starring Gerard Butler and O'Shea Jackson, Jr.. The movie didn't make a huge splash at the time, but it has earned a strong following in the years since. It's one of Butler's best movies. DEN OF THIEVES doesn't merely have fans. It has super-fans. For good reason, too. It's got elements of HEAT, THE USUAL SUSPECTS, and the OCEAN'S 11 movies with a lot of flavor that is all its own, thanks in large part to Gerard Butler's work.
Now, DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERAis on the way. This sequel features the two leads of the original movie reprising their roles. But there are some big changes. The first movie was solidly based in Los Angeles (though filmed in Atlanta); the sequel is international. And it looks like Butler's character, a morally questionable sheriff, might be part of the heist crew this time!
Here's the new trailer for DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA and everything else we know about the DEN OF THIEVES sequel.
What's the Den of Thieves 2: Pantera Release Date?
Lionsgate will release DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA in movie theaters on January 10, 2025.
Watch the New Den of Thieves 2: Pantera Trailer
Right away, we see O'Shea Jackson Jr. as former Marine and current heist getaway expert, Donnie Wilson, and now-former Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Detective Nick "Big Nick" O'Brien, played by Gerard Butler. The two men have a HEAT-style meeting, which leads to Big Nick joining Wilson for a European robbery job. But when that job goes wrong, the two unlikely partners have to rely upon one another in unexpected ways.
How Did the First Den of Thieves End?
Spoilers for the original movie follow! If you need a refresher on the original DEN OF THIEVES, here's a short recap.
The movie is primarily a face-off between a heist crew led by Ray Merrimen (an excellent Pablo Schreiber) and LA County Sheriff Detective Big Nick O'Brien. Donnie Wilson is the relatively green driver working for Merrimen, who plans to rob the Federal Reserve Bank in Los Angeles. When that robbery goes wrong, Merrimen and his crew are killed, but Wilson, who had been captured by Big Nick, escapes. Then we learn that there's a Keyser Soze thing going on with Wilson, who had far more control of the heist than seemed to be the case. The movie ends with Wilson beginning to gather intel on a diamond exchange in London, which very likely sets up this sequel.
Why Is the Movie Called Den of Thieves 2: Pantera?
Part of the sequel's title is obvious. There's no mystery about the "DEN OF THIEVES 2" part. But "PANTERA" has its own origin. It's the Spanish word for "panther." Like the first movie, this one is based on a real heist — as it turns out, a great deal of heist research goes into the DEN OF THIEVES movies!
Writer-director Christian Gudegast told The Ringer that the title references "the task force that was tasked with hunting down the thieves responsible for a series of heists throughout Europe that were perpetuated by a group known as the Pink Panthers, or Panther mafia, who are largely from the Balkan region of Eastern Europe."
That squad was named Task Force Pantera, and that team led to the movie's title.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera Is Kind of a True Story
While the main characters are fictional, the heist in PANTERA is not only based on a real crime — the filmmakers had the real participants on hand to ensure accuracy.
"This [heist] that’s in Den 2 was based on what was referred to as the flawless heist," Gudegast said. "The World Diamond Centre in Europe. It was just so meticulously done. And we had on our set with us, in script writing and in shooting, both the guys on the criminal side that were involved in the thievery and on the law enforcement side. So the lead investigator was there the whole time with us. So what you will see in the movie is an exceptionally accurate portrayal of how it was actually done."
Director Christian Gudegast Had to Choose Between Pantera and Plane
Christian Gudegast wrote and directed the first DEN OF THIEVES, and he's back for PANTERA. But as he told The Ringer, it took some time for this movie to come together, and that means some hard choices.
"I was going to do this movie called PLANE with Gerry," he said, indicating that Butler wanted them to do PLANE together, then go right into PANTERA. But the filmmaker said "Well, then I can’t do PLANE," because a movie like DEN OF THIEVES 2 takes so much prep. "But then he ended up doing KANDAHAR after. And the next thing you know, it’s like three years later. That’s just the way it goes."
Who's in the Cast of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera?
Obviously, PANTERA features Gerard Butler as Nicholas "Big Nick" O'Brien and Gerard ButlerGerard Butler as Donnie Wilson. Then the cast is rounded out by Swedish actor Evin Ahmad as Jovanna; "Gomorrah" and "Fargo" veteran Salvatore Esposito as Slavko; and UFC star Michael Bisping as Connor. Meadow Williams, Swen Temmel, Orli Shuka and Cristian Solimeno have roles, too.
Two other fight champions, Rico Verhoeven and Ciryl Gane, have roles in the film, as well.
Will the Den of Thieves Movies Be the New Fast and the Furious?
Maybe this is a bit of a reach, but bear with us. The new DEN OF THIEVES movie teams up two guys who were formerly on opposite sides of the law, features international settings, adds humor that the first movie didn't have, and features a banger of a song in the trailer, at least. All that sounds like a FAST AND FURIOUS sequel in many ways.
And why not? Since that series is likely winding down, there's room for a new crew to move in. Now, don't get us wrong: Much of the appeal of the first DEN OF THIEVES was that it felt like its own thing. We're not hoping that any potential further movies are crafted to be FAST/FURIOUS style popcorn movies. But could the DEN OF THIEVES series go in that direction, at least? It's possible!
DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA opens on January 10, 2025.
All images courtesy of Lionsgate.