Lionsgate has reportedly entered development on Den of Thieves 3, with stars Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. expected to reprise their roles. The announcement follows the success of sequel Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, which is currently topping $US41 million at the global box office.
Tucker Tooley Entertainment, which co-financed the first Den of Thieves film and played a key role in transitioning the franchise from STX to Lionsgate, will once again be involved in production. Franchise writer-director Christian Gudegast is in talks to helm the third instalment. Butler’s production company, G-BASE, is said to also be returning.
Gudegast previously hinted at a swift turnaround for the next chapter, “It’s already pitched. It’s already done. We’re ready to go,” he said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this month. “We’re feeling very good about it.”
O’Shea Jackson Jr. has also shared his enthusiasm for continuing the franchise. “I’m not gonna sugarcoat it: I’m trying to Vin Diesel this thing. To quote Ryan Reynolds, I want to work with Gerard until he’s 90,” the actor told Variety this month. “I know how much I want to do these other films, but we cannot cheapen this beautiful thing that we made. This one took six or seven years to get done. I hope the next one doesn’t. In our heart of hearts, we won’t make it if it’s not right and if it’s not the same thing that made audiences fall in love with the franchise in the first place.”
Jackson Jr. has taken to social media with news of the threequel, posting, “3 PEAT!!!!!!! Franchise baby!”
The Den of Thieves franchise began with the 2018 heist thriller that grossed $US80 million worldwide – a strong result for a film with a $30 million budget. Its success on home entertainment platforms further established it as a viable franchise.
While details on the plot remain under wraps, Gudegast has hinted that the next chapter could take the story in a new direction “Den of Thieves 3 is in the pipe, and it’s going to be a whole new world and a whole new deal,” he said in an interview with Polygon. “It’s going to be totally, completely different.”
The news was first reported by Scott Mendelson via Substack and was later confirmed by industry outlets such as Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter.
