Den Of Thieves 2’s Big Gerard Butler Change Makes The $80 Million Crime Sequel Much More Exciting

Den Of Thieves 2’s Big Gerard Butler Change Makes The $80 Million Crime Sequel Much More Exciting

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is set to arrive in theaters in 2025, and Gerard Butler’s protagonist has undergone an intriguing character change with profound implications for how the story will play out. The first Den of Thieves follows Nick O’Brien (played by Butler), an unconventional but ultimately justice-resolved cop, as he and his deputies attempt to unravel a heist planned by a crew of criminals. Den of Thieves’ ending perfectly set the stage for a sequel, with the plot twist revealing the criminal mastermind was actually the getaway driver “Big Nick” O’Brien nearly had in custody.

The Den of Thieves sequel continues with an interesting character dynamic development. The gruff cop and aforementioned getaway driver, Donnie, join forces, with O’Shea Jackson Jr. set to return. Europe isn’t the only thing this sequel will be exploring, as this twist on the cat-and-mouse trope will have the Den of Thieves’ protagonist operating on the other side of the law. Given his personality and clear sense of justice established in the original Den of Thieves, this change suggests a very different kind of story.

NicNick O’Brien’sk O’Brien’sdecision to join forces with Donnie, while certainly unexpected, isn’t unreasonable. The cop was already leaning towards corruption, with his hardcore way of practicing the law all too often aligning with the actions of those who tend to break it. So, selfishly following his desires into a life of crime would be a reasonable progression of his character arc. While Nick’s sharp wit and analysis talents were respected by his superiors, the same couldn’t be said for his no-holds-barred policing techniques. It will be interesting to see his behavior encouraged rather than condemned.

Additionally, it remains to be seen how Nick will resolve any new conflicts with his morals and personal identity. The first Den of Thieves movie never explicitly covered whether Nick was motivated by halting crime or simply motivated by being right. His turn to the dark side suggests the latter, but with a character as complex as Big Nick, there are many potential character arcs to explore.