Den of Thieves hit theaters in January 2018. This gritty Los Angeles crime saga featured an intense cat-and-mouse dynamic between Gerard Butler’s relentless cop, Big Nick, and O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s cunning thief, Donnie.
Now, seven years later, Jackson and Butler reunite in its sequel, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera. Fans of the original will be drawn back into the adrenaline-fueled world of Big Nick and Donnie, featuring fresh twists and a daring new heist that is even more explosive.
We had the chance to chat with Jackson Jr. and Butler to discuss their experiences reprising their roles, taking the action overseas, and what makes this sequel a thrilling ride.
Both Butler and Jackson Jr. were excited to dive back into the Den of Thieves universe.
“I have so much affection for these movies, this franchise, and this character of Big Nick,” Butler shared. “He’s kind of unforgettable. Then to just go on a completely new adventure and give it a different tone and turn everything up a notch… the action, the story, the locations, even the characters was so much fun.”
Jackson Jr. echoed the sentiment, explaining how the film avoids the trap of simply rehashing the original. “With this, we switched up the dynamic,” he said.
In the sequel, Big Nick isn’t beating up on Donnie, deterring away from the original plot. This time, while in Europe and closing in on Donnie, they find themselves entangled in the treacherous and unpredictable world of diamond thieves and the infamous Panther mafia as they plan a massive heist of the world’s largest diamond exchange.
The international setting raises the stakes considerably. “When you’re overseas, you definitely don’t want to go to jail. Shoutout to America!” Jackson Jr. jokes. “It’s a bigger thrill ride. And when you got two people who were enemies in the first one able to team up in the second one, you’re adding new layers for the audience to wonder about that they didn’t have in the first.”
Jackson Jr. credits Butler with initiating their off-screen bond, which adds to their seamless on-screen chemistry.
“I credit Gerard with that. We were neighbors and we had a scene the next day and we had to get it right,” Jackson Jr. explains. “And to save time, Gerard was like, ‘Just come over. Let’s run through the scene. Let’s find the goal before we even get to work.’ From there, after we had finished the scene, we kind of just started talking to each other, getting to know each other more, and the conversation went on for maybe about two hours. That day alone, just from that text message he shot me, really boosted our chemistry and friendship for the screen.”
Butler agreed, sharing that it helps to have a great script. “[The script] is funny, intense and emotional. Then you put the two of us in there and I think it just took it to new levels because we’ve got such great chemistry together that when you watch us…I think it’s really an enjoyable, emotional ride with us,”
When asked to name their top action movies, the actors delivered some surprising picks.
Butler’s list included Apocalypse Now, Heat, The Lord of the Rings, and Deadpool.
Jackson Jr., after confessing that he had never seen Die Hard, shared his favorites including Heat, Gone in 60 Seconds, Godzilla and Den of Thieves.
“That movie [Gone in 60 Seconds] made me fall in love with cars,” he said, giving a shoutout to Eleanor, the iconic Mustang from the film.
Check out the full interview. Den of Thieves 2: Pantera hits theaters on January 10.
