Den of Thieves 3 is now in development, with Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. expected to return in their major roles for the franchise. The Den of Thieves franchise has highlighted the exploits of Sherriff Nick O’Brien (Butler) and professional thief Donnie Wilson (Jackson Jr.), the pair crossing paths both as enemies and allies in each movie. Den of Thieves 2: Pantera ended with the duo on amicable terms, Nick managing to get him and his crew out of prison with help from the Italian mafia.

Now, IndieWire has confirmed Den of Thieves 3 is in the works, with Butler and Jackson Jr. expected to reprise their roles as Nick and Donnie respectively. Series creator Christian Gudagest, who wrote and directed the previous two movies, is also in talks to come back for both roles. While no story details nor production timelines have been revealed, Butler’s production company, G-BASE, alongside Tucker Tooley Entertainment are attached once more, with Lionsgate serving as the distributor.

What Den Of Thieves 3’s Confirmation Means For The Movie Series

The Heist Films Are Becoming A Full-Blown Franchise

The first Den of Thieves movie earned $80.5 million against a $35 million box office, indicating it to be a moderate success that later warranted a sequel getting greenlit. However, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera didn’t perform quite as well, earning just $47.5 million against a $40 million budget. But, with Den of Thieves 3 confirmed, it appears the movie’s performance was good enough based on the money spent to justify another one getting made. While it’s yet to arrive on digital, its sales on home release are bound to make that number increase as well.

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera‘s cast introduced plenty of new characters through Donnie’s crew, like Jovanna (Evin Ahmad) and Slavko (Salvatore Esposito). This means they are likely to come back in another movie alongside the rest of the characters introduced, likely doing jobs for the Italian mob now that they’ve earned their freedom. How Nick will get involved is unclear, although his decision to let them out shows he is truly disillusioned with his law enforcement career, perhaps leading him down a different path.

Our Take On Den Of Thieves 3 Being In Development

It Sounds Like There’s A Long-Term Plan For The Series

Gudegast previously confirmed multiple sequel ideas, saying he knows where the story will go up through a potential fifth movie. This makes Den of Thieves 3‘s announcement just one part of what could become a major franchise for Butler and Jackson Jr., possibly ushering in more planned installments if it’s successful enough. Although there are still details yet to arrive about the film, this early development is a good sign the series is going to be another regularly-released action franchise.

Source: IndieWire