Den of Thieves 2: Gerard Butler has built a lasting presence in the film industry over nearly 30 years, establishing himself as a major figure in action films with mid-range budgets. While many may recognize him from his breakout role in 300 (2007), the Scottish actor has consistently found success, even if critics don’t always rave about his work. Despite mixed reviews, Butler remains a bankable star, headlining films that often perform well beyond their modest budgets.
While franchises like How to Train Your Dragon and the Olympus Has Fallen series (which includes London Has Fallen and Angel Has Fallen) have brought him mainstream recognition, few of his movies have warranted sequels — until now, with the upcoming Den of Thieves 2: Pantera.
Pantera picks up where the 2018 action-thriller Den of Thieves left off, continuing the high-stakes heist saga. The first film, which launched in the quiet January movie slot, earned mixed reviews but still managed to rake in $80 million from a $30 million budget. Gerard Butler stars as Detective Nick “Big Nick” O’Brien, a gritty Los Angeles cop obsessed with taking down a crew of ex-marine criminals planning a heist at the Los Angeles Federal Reserve. While it’s still unclear how the sequel will be received, some key details about the film’s plot, cast, and release date have already been revealed. Here’s what we know about Den of Thieves 2: Pantera so far.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera
Premiere Date: January 10, 2025
Director: Christian Gudegast
Cast Includes: Ignacio Herrez, Stéphane Coulon, Mark Grosy, John West Jr., Birol Tarkan Yıldız, Yuri D. Brown, Antonio Bustorff, Rico Verhoeven, Yasen Zates Atour, Nazmiye Oral, Salvatore Esposito, Dino Kelly, Evin Ahmad, Ciryl Gane, Velibor Topic, Orli Shuka, Cristian Solimeno, Bob Jennings, Jordan Bridges, Swen Temmel, Gerard Butler, Meadow Williams, Michael Bisping, and O’Shea Jackson Jr.
The Storyline of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera
Not much has been officially revealed about the plot of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, but we do know that the story will follow directly from the first film. Gerard Butler’s character, Detective O’Brien, will continue his pursuit of Donnie Wilson (played by O’Shea Jackson Jr.), a member of the bank-robbing crew who managed to escape. In the first movie, Wilson initially appeared to be just the getaway driver, but it was later unveiled that he was the true mastermind behind the heist. By the end of the film, Wilson fled to London, eyeing a diamond exchange as his next target.
In the recently released trailer, Den of Thieves 2 reveals that Detective O’Brien is hot on the heels of Donnie Wilson, who has fled to Europe. There, Wilson’s crew is planning an even riskier heist at the World Diamond Center, a target far more dangerous than the Federal Reserve. In an unexpected twist, O’Brien doesn’t pursue Wilson alone; instead, he seems to join forces with him for the heist. It’s still unclear whether O’Brien has fully crossed over to the criminal side or if he’s simply using this opportunity to get closer to Wilson and ultimately take him down.
Production Setbacks of Den of Thieves 2
Following the release of the first Den of Thieves, discussions about a sequel started almost immediately. Director Christian Gudegast and lead actor Gerard Butler began considering the idea of continuing the story. However, before focusing on the sequel, Butler pushed for Gudegast to direct the 2023 film Plane. Despite this opportunity, Gudegast opted to hold off and wait until the time was right to reunite with Butler for the Den of Thieves follow-up.
The Den of Thieves 2 project encountered more delays as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which slowed down production. Gerard Butler’s full calendar also played a role in the postponements, meaning the team couldn’t start working on the sequel until 2023. Filming took place in locations such as the UK and the Canary Islands, according to The Hollywood Reporter. After years of waiting, the film is now complete and is slated for a release on January 10, 2025.
January Release for Den of Thieves 2 Could Be Beneficial
January is traditionally a challenging month for movie releases, as it follows the heavy competition of holiday blockbusters and Oscar contenders. Historically, it has been viewed as a period when studios release films they expect to underperform—either due to a lack of confidence in the movie or because they never expected much from it in the first place. Despite this, there have been some films that have defied the odds, performing surprisingly well by focusing on straightforward entertainment rather than seeking critical acclaim or award recognition.
January releases have proven successful in the past. Taken (2008) earned $227 million on a $25 million budget, launching a franchise and boosting Liam Neeson’s action career. M3GAN (2022) made $181 million from a $12 million budget, becoming a horror icon. Similarly, Paddington (2015) grossed $283 million worldwide, turning into a family favorite after its $65 million budget.
Films released in January typically face lower expectations compared to summer blockbusters or holiday films. This can actually work in a movie’s favor, allowing it the freedom to either succeed or fail without the intense pressure of more competitive release periods. Den of Thieves 2: Pantera might follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, providing audiences with straightforward entertainment to enjoy during the winter months.
