Christian Gudegast on Den of Thieves Pantera and what’s next

Jeff: Thank you. Hey, Christian, how are you?

Christian: I’m all good, though I’m currently navigating my wife’s laptop since mine died. It’s a touchscreen, so I’m doing my best not to accidentally open or close anything. I’m winging it, really.

Jeff: Well, thank you so much for joining me today. I really appreciate it—and congratulations on the movie. It’s a great follow-up. Before we dive into the second one, I didn’t get the chance to speak to you when the first Den of Thieves came out. What inspired the story in the first place?

Christian: Thanks, man. Yeah, the original was all about exploring that gritty cat-and-mouse game between elite bank robbers and the law. It was grounded and raw. The inspiration came from wanting to blend the sophistication of a heist thriller with the intensity of street-level realism.

Jeff: I noticed people refer to the second one in different ways—some call it Den of Thieves 2, others just say Den of Thieves: Penthouse. Are you planning on numbering these, or is it more about the title and subtitle moving forward?

Christian: Good question. We’re leaning toward titles with subtitles rather than numbered entries. It gives us room to explore different stories without being tied to a strict numbering system.

Jeff: And you’ve mentioned wanting to continue the franchise. Do you intend to keep it grounded and realistic?

Christian: Absolutely. That’s what sets it apart. We want to keep it gritty and rooted in realism—even when we raise the stakes. That grounded tone is part of the DNA now.

Jeff: Watching the second one, I couldn’t help but think of Heat. The shootout in the first film got a lot of comparisons to it, and I totally see it. It’s like if De Niro’s character survived, and Pacino joined him, realizing that this lifestyle is actually kind of thrilling.

Christian: I love that. Heat is definitely an influence. And it’s cool hearing that kind of feedback—it means we’re hitting the right beats.

Jeff: So what kind of challenges did you face with Den of Thieves 2? There are some really ambitious action sequences. That’s no easy task, especially with the bar set by that legendary bridge shootout from the first one. I still rank that scene alongside Heat—top tier stuff.

Christian: Thanks! Yeah, the second one came with new challenges. For example, that big car chase at the end—technically tricky. The road wasn’t straight, and coordinating all the elements was tough. But it pays off. That whole sequence was a beast, and it turned out great.

Jeff: And the scene with the two helicopters—that must have been a logistical nightmare. You’ve got landings, takeoffs, close-quarter maneuvers…

Christian: That was its own challenge for sure. Even though it’s a shorter scene, the complexity is off the charts. We had to be precise with timing and safety, especially with all the practical effects.

Jeff: You mentioned Gerard Butler earlier—he’s really busy right now, right? Greenland 2, Has Fallen sequel in production. So realistically, when might we see Den 3?

Christian: Yeah, Gerard’s schedule is packed. But we’re moving as quickly as we can. The goal is soon—really soon. We’ve got momentum, and we want to keep building on it.

Jeff: Can you give any indication of where the story’s heading in Part 3? Will it follow the same crew?

Christian: I can’t say much yet, but the idea is to evolve the characters while staying true to the core dynamic. You’ll definitely see familiar faces—but also some new blood.

Jeff: Has Part 3 officially been greenlit?

Christian: It has. The response has been great, especially in the U.S., and we’re full steam ahead.

Jeff: That’s amazing. Do you see the franchise going beyond three films—maybe five or six?

Christian: Yeah, if the audience is there and the stories are strong, I’d love to keep it going. I’ve always been drawn to long-arc storytelling, and I think there’s plenty left to explore.

Jeff: Usually I ask what’s next at the end of an interview, but I think you’ve just answered that—Den 3. But can you tell us a bit about Wolf Country? That sounds intriguing.

Christian: Wolf Country is something I’m really excited about. It’s still early days, so I can’t give too much away, but it’s gritty, intense, and very different from Den of Thieves. Definitely one to watch.

Jeff: You’ve been a really interesting guy to chat with—genuinely. And I really enjoyed Den of Thieves 2. It’s been a long time since a sequel landed this well for me. Honestly, I’d rank it like T2—Terminator 2. Loved T1, but T2 just took everything up a level. That’s how I feel about this.

Christian: That’s high praise. Appreciate that, man. We worked hard to level up.

Jeff: Christian, thanks so much for your time. Best of luck with the UK release—it hits Amazon soon, right?

Christian: That’s right. And fingers crossed, we get to do this again for Den 3—and maybe more after that.

Jeff: Count me in. All the best, Christian.

Christian: You too, Jeff. Thanks, man. Bye.