Gerard Butler assures audiences that Den of Thieves 3 will be coming faster than Den of Thieves 2: Pantera cast features Butler, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Evin Ahmad, and Salvatore Esposito.

In an exclusive interview with ScreenRant, Butler hints at the timeline for Den of Thieves 3. He and his co-star Jackson Jr. were reminded of the long gap between Den of Thieves and its sequel. Butler then assured ScreenRant that it is "not going to take that long" for the third movie, despite the big hiatus between the first two. This seemed to surprise Jackson, who said "Really?" in response. Check out the full quotes below:

Butler: It’s not going to take that long.

Jackson Jr.: Really?

Butler: I will not wait anymore, and I won't do that to other people anymore. I'm sorry.

Jackson Jr.: Okay.

Butler: It's not all my fault, but a lot of it is.

What This Means For Den Of Thieves 3

Den Of Thieves 2 Was Held Up By COVID & More

There was an almost seven-year gap between Den of Thieves and Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, with the first film coming out on January 19, 2018, and the second released on January 10, 2025. During this time, there were a lot of barriers that resulted in delayed filming for the sequel. Firstly, 2020 saw the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down countless productions, including Den of Thieves 2. Director Christian Gudegast also recently explained that Butler's knee injury held up production further.

The obstacles that affected the production of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera are unlikely to surface again since a seven-year gap is lengthy for a new action franchise. It is noteworthy that Butler does not promise a specific timeline for Den of Thieves 3, just that it is slated to come faster than the second film. There is potential for a third movie, given how the second installment's ending resolves the fates of Jackson Jr. and Butler's characters, leaving the doors open for another clash between them.

Our Take On The Den Of Thieves 3 Release Plan

Den of Thieves 2 Still Has To Win At The Box Office

While Butler is preemptive about Den of Thieves 3 happening, it will come down to its box office performance. While the first installment did well at $80 million, it's unclear how the sequel will perform. Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is the first major action film to be released in theaters, which has been dominated by late 2024 releases like Mufasa and Sonic the Hedgehog 3. For another sequel to be greenlit, it has to perform exceptionally well to make up for its $40 million budget. If it can $100 million at the box office, perhaps Den of Thieves 3 can be discussed.