Warning: Spoilers for Den of Thieves 2: PanteraDen of Thieves 2: Pantera missed Pablo Schreiber as the ruthless Merrimen, but there is a theory about how he could return. Den of Thieves is often compared to Heat, with the two movies involving an obsessive cop and expert thief facing off as the latter pulls off various heists. Much of the story focuses on this toxic macho rivalry between “Big” Nick (Gerard Butler) and heist crew leader Merrimen, with Den of Thieves ending seeing Nick gunning the cornered thief down.
The final twist revealed that Donnie (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) was the real mastermind of the gang. Thus, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera revolves around Nick and Donnie, with the two joining forces as Nick goes rogue. This means the sequel has a more chilled-out vibe compared to the scuzzy antics in the 2018 original. Den of Thieves 3 is already in development, but where the story will go next – or who Big Nick’s next foe will be – is currently unknown.
Den Of Thieves 2 Missed Pablo Schreiber’s Merrimen After His On-Screen Death
The Nick/Donnie dynamic just wasn’t the same
Den of Thieves 2 may have seen the return of Big Nick and Donnie and featured more elaborate heists, but tonally, it felt very different from the first entry. A large part of this was the focus on Nick and Donnie, which had the opposite dynamic to Nick and Merrimen. Butler vs Schreiber might not carry the same weight as Pacino vs De Niro in Heat, but their chemistry still powered Den of Thieves and was the main source of conflict. Nick and Merrimen were flipsides of the same coin, which made their final showdown thrilling.
The lack of Merrimen is an issue with Pantera. There’s very little tension in the Nick/Donnie relationship, especially since they become fast friends. Their bromance results in a less interesting movie, and while it was a fun time, the sequel missed Merrimen’s energy. A follow-up involving Nick and Merrimen being forced to work together would have made for a more entertaining story – and a wilder one too. Of course, it would have been hard to get around the whole death of Merrimen issue.
A Den Of Thieves Theory Suggests Pablo Schreiber Could Return As Merrimen’s Twin Brother
The old twin brother trick hasn’t been pulled by Hollywood in awhile
Nick shoots Merrimen multiple times in Den of Thieves‘ finale, so he’s extremely ᴅᴇᴀᴅ by the time the credits roll. The loss of Schreiber was always going to make a sequel tricky, since Merrimen left such an impression. With Den of Thieves 3 already in development following Pantera’s success it would be a good time to reintroduce Merrimen – albeit with a twist. There is a fan theory that Merrimen had a twin brother, which would be one way to bring Schreiber back into the fold.
The old “backup twin” trope is an old one in Hollywood and is used for sequels where the filmmakers want to bring an actor back – despite their character having died. The most famous instance is Jack Palance in City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly’s Gold, while Chow Yun-fat was brought back as his character’s never before mentioned twin in A Better Tomorrow 2. It’s an inelegant solution, but in a franchise as heightened as Den of Thieves, it could work with the right approach. After all, Merrimen’s family history isn’t probed in any great detail.
Den of Thieves writer and director Christian Gudegast also co-wrote London Has Fallen for Gerard Butler.
It would be great to see Butler and Schreiber squaring off again for the third film, with Merrimen’s bro seeking revenge for his death. Another approach would be bringing Merriman back in flashbacks, or even making a prequel focused on his crew before the first film’s events.
Pablo Schreiber Returning As Merrimen’s Twin Brother In Future Den Of Thieves Movies Would Be Great
The next Den of Thieves should find room for Pablo Schreiber
The twin idea stretches credulity, but it would be a forgivable sin if it brought Schreiber back. His death in the first outing felt right for the story, but if sequels were always planned, losing Merrimen so early fells like the wrong move. Playing a twin would allow Schreiber to approach the character differently too, and maybe emphasize how Merrimen’s twin differs from his deceased brother.
The Merrimen brother theory is wishful thinking at the moment, as there don’t appear to be plans to bring Schreiber back for another Den of Thieves.
The Merrimen brother theory is wishful thinking at the moment, as there don’t appear to be plans to bring Schreiber back. The third Den of Thieves will probably see Nick chasing after Donnie again, though their friendship might make things awkward. Given that Pantera felt so different from the original, a third movie might switch genres again to keep things fresh.
