Lionsgate
Den of Thieves franchise director Christian Gudegast has exclusively revealed plot details for the upcoming third film in the franchise, which is currently in development, to BroBible. Gudegast also revealed that a prequel film focusing on Pablo Schreiber’s Ray Merrimen and Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson’s Enson Levoux is in the works.
Speaking to BroBible to promote the release of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, Christian Gudegast — who both wrote and directed Den of Thieves and its sequel — confirmed that the tires are being kicked on prequel film set before the events of Den of Thieves.
Gudagest says the plot of the prequel film would focus on Ray and Enson’s transition from MARSOC Marines to high-caliber criminals, and the circumstances that made them undergo those changes.
Additionally, Gudagest also shared plot details for Den of Thieves 3, which was confirmed to be in development earlier this month with both Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Sr. set to return as Big Nick and Donnie, respectively. (This article will be updated with exact quotes from Gudegast when our interview file is delivered to us).
After we pointed out to Gudegast that, whereas Den 1 seems inspired by Heat and To Live and Die In L.A., the sequel has more of a buddy cop tone akin to 48 Hours and Lethal Weapon. Gudegast agreed with that assessment and added that the third film in the franchise would again change its tone — something he plans to do with all the films in the franchise — and will be a globe-trotting espionage thriller akin to William Friedkin’s Sorcerer.
Friedkin’s Sorcerer, released in 1977 and starring Roy Scheider (Jaws), follows “four men on the run from the law in South America who are offered $10,000 and legal citizenship if they will transport a shipment of dangerously unstable nitroglycerin to an oil well 200 miles away.”
Unfortunately, while Gudegast expanded on his plans for Den of Thieves 3, he literally froze and glitched out of our Zoom call. In fact, the timing of the glitch was so annoyingly accurate that it’s almost as if the studio powers-that-be cut in to prevent him from revealing too much — I’m dead serious( even though I don’t actually believe that’s what happened). It was honestly Den of Thieves-esque the way a twist occurred just at the key moment.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is now available to rent or buy on digital platforms. You can als check out our interview with Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. below.