Den of Thieves 2: Pantera
star Gerard Butler explains why his character, Big Nick, has abandoned law enforcement. Serving as a sequel to 2018’s Den of Thieves, the upcoming action movie is once again directed by Christian Gudegast with a story that follows Big Nick as he chases Donnie (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) down in Europe. As the Den of Thieves 2: Pantera trailers have revealed, the sequel is set to shake things up in a major way, with Big Nick joining forces with Donnie for a heist of a major diamond exchange.
During a recent interview with The Direct, Butler breaks down Big Nick’s sudden change of heart, explaining why he’s joined the criminals in Den of Thieves 2. According to Butler, Nick’s life in L.A. has fallen apart both personally and professionally, and his defeat at the end of the first movie played a large role in pushing him toward making a change. Check out Butler’s full comment below:
Well, Nick, I think, used to be the guy who has a killer instinct. He’s very good at taking down the bad guys, and he’s good at winning. He only really knows that. At the end of the last movie, he thought, I’m screwed, and that guy’s good. So it kind of washed him out, broke him up, but it also brought him back to life, in a way…
… And he doesn’t feel supported by the cops. He’s divorced. Life has not been so great. But he has Donnie, and Donnie is something to aim for. So, he’s like a bear with a sore paw that leads to all these great opportunities with the movie and the heist.
What Big Nick’s Change Means For Den Of Thieves 2
Will Pantera’s Reviews Be More Positive?
The first Den of Thieves was clearly heavily inspired by Heat (1995) and chronicled the rivalry between a ruthless criminal and an obsessed cop. Though the response from critics was mixed, the film ended up striking a chord with audiences, gaining steam over time, especially after it hit streaming. This shift away from the dynamic of the first movie could mean that Pantera ends up faring better with critics, as a key complaint with the original was that it failed to offer up anything new beyond its obvious influences.
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Den of Thieves‘ Key Scores |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
Est. Budget |
Worldwide Box Office |
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41% |
63% |
$30M |
$80.5M |
Big Nick abandoning his life as a cop after the Den of Thieves ending could also benefit him as a character. One of the interesting aspects of Nick from the original is that he’s a cop who doesn’t really act like a cop at all, clearly playing by his own rules. No longer in law enforcement, Nick will no longer after any real guard rails in place, and this could open the door for an even more wild Butler performance.
Our Take On Big Nick Switching Sides In Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera
How The Sequel Could Pave The Way For A Third Movie
The dynamic between Merrimen (Pablo Schreiber) and Nick was a major part of the appeal of the first movie, and it’s a risk to move away from this dynamic for the sequel. Taking risks, however, is arguably what will open the door for Den of Thieves 2 to be better than its predecessor.
Related
Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera Cast & Character Guide
Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera has Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. set to return to cinema screens in 2025 with a variety of new faces.
The Donnie and Nick dynamic sets Pantera up to be more of a buddy movie than a rivalry, and this, in turn, opens the door for more humor, which Butler has teased is more abundant in the sequel. If Donnie and Nick’s new dynamic ends up faring well with audiences, the sequel could pave the way for a third movie that further explores their partnership. It remains to be seen how Big Nick’s change of heart will impact Den of Thieves 2: Pantera‘s reception in theaters, but the sequel is already an interesting departure from the original.
Source: The Direct
Sheriff “Big Nick” O’Brien tracks Donnie Wilson to Europe after his daring escape. As Donnie becomes deeply involved with diamond thieves and the Panther mafia, the stakes rise with a plan to rob the world’s largest diamond exchange. The film promises intense action and suspense across international borders.
- Release Date
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January 10, 2025
- Cast
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Gerard Butler
, O’Shea Jackson Jr.
, Meadow Williams
, Jordan Bridges
, Evin Ahmad
, Swen Temmel
, Bob Jennings
, Michael Bisping
, Salvatore Esposito
, Orli Shuka
, Cristian Solimeno
, Nazmiye Oral
, Yasen Zates Atour
, Dino Kelly
, Rico Verhoeven
, Velibor Topic
, Antonio Bustorff
, Yuri D. Brown
, Birol Tarkan Yıldız
, John West Jr
, Ciryl Gane
, Mark Grosy
, Ignacio Herráez
, Stéphane Coulon - Character(s)
-
Nicholas Big Nick O’Brien
, Donnie Wilson
, Holly
, Lobbin Bob
, Jovanna
, Milan
, Connor
, Slavko
, Dushko
, Chava
, Giuseppe Schillaci
, Moussa
, Mirinko
, Tamy
, Corrections Officer
, Eduardo
, Sargent Adams
, Doyle
, Concierge - Director
-
Christian Gudegast
- Writers
-
Christian Gudegast
- Studio(s)
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Atmosphere Entertainment MM
, Diamond Film Productions
, G-BASE
, Entertainment One
, Tucker Tooley Entertainment
