Den of Thieves 2: Pantera opened in theaters this weekend, bringing audiences on a new adventure with Gerard Butler’s “Big Nick” and O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s “Donnie” for the first time in five years. This time, the heists go global and see the aforementioned characters become unlikely allies, teaming up to rob the World Diamond Center. Ultimately, it proved to be lucrative enough of a plan, as Lionsgate posted their first #1 opening at the box office since 2023 with the sequel.

As the filmmakers already have plans for more, Pantera should not be the last time Lionsgate gets a box office win with their Den of Thieves saga, though. This should be the next Fast & Furious-like franchise.

Den of Thieves is rooted in heists. Christian Gudegast, director of both installments, has managed to craft highly-tense sequences which rarely require any explosive action or gunfire to draw the audience to the edge of their seats. Remember, before it was going to space, when Fast & Furious was all about car races? At the time, the races were the main draw, but the fun and interesting characters and their relationships were the true hook. While neither saga is exactly a masterclass in character development, both have shown that a pair of cool guys being at the front of a film with a tense relationship which leaves us wondering if they can actually trust each other – and truly hoping they can – is a recipe for success. Heists are the cars and races, Big Nick and Donnie are the Brian and Dom.

As the $15 million worth of people who spent their money at the box office to see Den of Thieves 2: Pantera know: there is room for another. Gudegast knows it, too.

“It’s all mapped out, all ready to go,” Gudegast told me in our interview on the Porsche Experience’s lot. “There will be a new character involved, new worlds, exotic locale… Yeah.” In fact, he has plans not only for a third installment, but also a fourth.

The Fast & Furious saga has topped the Den franchise in comparable release, so far. The first of the Fast movies took in $155 million worldwide, while the first Den came with just more than half of that at an $80 million global take. Before scoffing at the idea of Den of Thieves becoming a continued franchise, remember that Lionsgate is the studio which took John Wick (which opened below $15 million with is first film) and turned it into a global hit with four chapters, a Peacock spinoff series, and an upcoming prequel spinoff movie.

New characters, expansive stakes, and global adventures? With a budget estimated to have been around $40 million, there’s a good chance Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is considered a success at Lionsgate and Gudegast gets the call to get the gang back together.

The cast are on board, too. When not quipping a Deadpool & Wolverine reference to imply Butler has to play Big Nick ’til he’s 90, Jackson Jr. is open about wanting to continue with the role.

“That’s Christian [Gudegast], man,” Jackson Jr. said. “Christian is good at leaving the back end open. Christian is such an amazing director, as far as a guy that’s in your corner. You really feel like he gives a damn. It’s refreshing to run into as I go on throughout my career. It’s just a dude that you want to go to bat for. Any time my phone rings, I know it’s, ‘Here comes Den. Here comes Den coming back up.’ As long as I got Gerard, we can knock that out. Easy.”

You can catch Den of Thieves 2: Pantera in theaters now.

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