‘Den Of Thieves 3’: Lionsgate Greenlights Threequel For Their Action-Heist Franchise

It’s time to gear up another heist. THR reports that Lionsgate will move ahead with their plans for a sequel to “Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera” after the film’s box office success earlier this month.   “Pantera” won its January 10 opening weekend with $15.2 million, with $32 million on its overall theater run.  That’s much less in total box office numbers than its 2018 predecessor ($80 million), but enough for Lionsgate to let writer-director Christian Gudegast make his trilogy.

READ MORE: Gerard Butler Talks ‘Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera,’ Franchise Longevity, & Becoming An Action Icon [Interview]

Tucker Tooley Entertainment will produce “Den Of Thieves 3” after financing and producing the past two films.  Gerald Butler is also expected to return as “Big Nick” O’Brien, and produce via his G-Base banner with Alan Siegel.  It’s also inevitable that O’Shea Jackson will return as well, but stay tuned if “Pantera” actors Evin Ahmad, Salvatore Esposito, and Orli Shuka will also be back.

A minor hit in 2018, “Den Of Thieves” gained a cult reputation on home video/streaming, which boosted interest in a sequel.  But it took seven years for Gudegast to make “Pantera” due to various delays, including a physical issue with star Butler.  Upon the sequels release three weeks ago, Gudegast told THR he had a threequel in mind, contingent on “Pantera” doing well theatrically. “It’s already pitched. It’s already done. We’re ready to go,” said the writer-director. Now it looks like Gudegast got his wish, despite modest box office numbers for “Pantera,” but maybe its PVOD release on Tuesday will give it a second life.

So when will “Den Of Thieves 3” hit theaters? Butler has a new “Greenland” movie ready to shoot, so production likely won’t happen until after that one. Up next for the actor? The live-action “How To Train Your Dragon” movie, in theaters on June 13.

Stay tuned for more details on “Den Of Thieves 3” as the year continues.