'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera' Director and Producer Interview

Moviefone speaks with director Christian Gudegast and producer Tucker Tooley about 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'. "This was much more of a buddy movie," Tooley said.

(L to R) Producer Tucker Tooley and writer and director Christian Gudegast for 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'.

‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’, which is the sequel to 2018’s action classic ‘Den of Thieves’, is once again written and directed by Christian Gudegast and opens in theaters on January 10th.

The movie features Gerard Butler (‘Law Abiding Citizen’) and O’Shea Jackson Jr. (‘Straight Outta Compton’) reprising their roles as Big Nick and Donnie, respectively, but also includes new cast members Evin Ahmed (‘Girls of the Sun’), Michael Bisping (‘XXX: Return of Xander Cage’), and Salvatore Esposito (‘Fargo’).

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with writer and director Christian Gudegast and producer Tucker Tooley to talk about their work on 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera', crafting the idea for the sequel, moving the action to Europe, the action sequences, Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s chemistry together, and how the characters have changed since the first film.

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Gerard Butler as 'Big Nick' O'Brien in 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'. Photo Credit: Rico Torres for Lionsgate.

Moviefone: To begin with, Christian, at what point during the making of the first film did you realize that you had something special on your hands and when did you start thinking about ideas for a sequel?

Christian Gudegast: From the very beginning. So, from the research of the first one, Tucker and I worked together from the very beginning, and we saw that we had so much material, almost like enough material for a long form series that we couldn't possibly put it on the first one. So, we knew that we wanted to go to different parts of the world to examine and dive into different heists because a great heist is just endlessly fascinating. So, we knew that we wanted something to be repeatable around the world.

O'Shea Jackson Jr as Donnie Wilson in 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'. Photo Credit: Rico Torres for Lionsgate.

MF: Tucker, from a production standpoint, can you talk about taking the story out of Los Angeles, placing it in Europe and what that adds to the tone of the movie?

Tucker Tooley: Well, look, the first intention was, let's open it up. The first one was very focused in the Federal Reserve and in and around Los Angeles. We wanted it to be more of an international experience. So, we scouted several different locations. We were all set to shoot in one place, and then the tax credit fell through, so we had to move to another place. But where we ended up in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands was phenomenal. It was easy to double different places in Europe on the island of Tenerife, and we also shot in the South of France. But that island is incredibly unique because you have multiple different feels and vibes. One side of the island is dry, the other side is tropical. You have the place that literally looks like Nice. So, it was a perfect spot for us, and they have a great tax credit. So that was important.

Gerard Butler as 'Big Nick' O'Brien in 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'. Photo Credit: Rico Torres for Lionsgate.

MF: Christian, the Benihana sequence in ‘Den of Thieves’ is one of the most iconic scenes from the first movie. Is there a scene, set piece or action sequence in the sequel that you are really excited for fans to watch?

CG: Aside from the action, I would say in the middle of the film, the nightclub and shawarma sequence, that's that version thereof. All that's just based on personal experience and thinking as you're living your life, “I feel like I'm living in a movie right now. This should be a scene in movie one day” and then it is. So yeah, it's really that sequence, which is that version thereof in ‘Den 2’.

(L to R) O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Donnie Wilson and Gerard Butler as 'Big Nick' O'Brien in 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'. Photo Credit: Rico Torres.

MF: Tucker, can you talk about the chemistry that Gerard and O'Shea have on screen together playing these characters and what they bring to these roles?

TT: We think they have incredible chemistry in the movie. In the first movie, they were separate the whole time. We separated the bad guys and the good guys. So, we saw some of that off camera in the first one. Certainly, in the scenes where they were opposite each other. There was a vibe there. When Big Nick is beating up Donnie in that room, there was a lot of tension there. So, when we started designing this one, it became apparent quickly when we were on set, certainly, but even in the writing of it with Christian writing it, that this was going to be much more of a buddy movie, and both just rose to the occasion. Big Nick is perfect for that role. No one can do that role better. That was a huge thing for us in the first movie. Then Donnie gets to evolve into a tough guy. In the first one, he's sort of a kid. But in this one, he has evolved.

O'Shea Jackson Jr as Donnie Wilson in 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'. Photo Credit: Rico Torres for Lionsgate.

MF: Finally, Christian, in the first film, Donnie is really pretending to be someone else through most of the movie. Now that Big Nick and the audience know who Donnie really is, what was it like writing for that character this time around?

CG: Well, it was everything for O'Shea too, he really wanted to lean into “who I really am” and not have to play this, “I'm a bulls**t artist”. You know what I mean? He becomes, as Tucker said a grown man. So, it's a completely different dynamic and one that then, it's going to be tougher for Nick to bounce off that. He doesn't get pushed around anymore. So now you have more natural rivalries. But at the same time, I think they learn to love each other. They're like, "I like this dude." It becomes a bromance. It's like when you travel around the world and you go somewhere strange and different, and suddenly you recognize someone from home, even though he's not your boy. It's a weird Kumbaya that develops. So, we had a lot of fun with that.

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera

"The score isn't settled."

R2 hr 24 minJan 10th, 2025

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What is the plot of ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’?

Immediately following the events of ‘Den of Thieves’, sheriff "Big Nick" O'Brien (Gerard Butler) is tracking down Donnie Wilson (O'Shea Jackson Jr.), who escaped to Europe and is planning another heist.