Rejoice: They’re Making a DEN OF THIEVES Sequel

Here's Deadline with some news I didn't expect to see today:

"Gerard Butler, Tucker Tooley, Mark Canton, Alan Siegel, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and director Christian Gudegast with O’Shea Jackson, Jr. (who is in negotiations) have pacted to return for a sequel to the heist thriller Den of Thieves. The project, which will be distributed by STX worldwide and financed by Diamond Film Productions, is being written by Gudegast from an original idea."

Yes, Den of Thieves, the tough-dudes-robbing-stuff jam championed by a healthy portion of the BMD staff and (checks Rotten Tomatoes) 40% of critics is getting a sequel, with what sounds like the majority of the original's cast - and its director - all signed on to return. 

Typically, this is where I'd tell you that we have no idea what the sequel's going to be about, but it turns out Gudegast (who'll write in addition to directing) already has a plot synopsis for us. Here's how they're describing it:

"Den of Thieves 2 ... will find Big Nick (Butler) on the hunt in the streets of Europe closing in on Donnie (Jackson Jr.) who is embroiled in the dangerous world of diamond thieves and the infamous Panther mafia, as they plot a massive heist of the world’s biggest diamond exchange."

Speaking as one of the few BMD staff members who hasn't gotten around to seeing Den Of Thieves yet - I know, I know - I have no idea if the "Panther mafia" is something we were introduced to in the original, a real-life thing I've never heard before, or just something that Gudegast concocted for the sequel (quite frankly, I shouldn't have written this post, but both Evan and Jacob are seeing Black Panther at the moment, so you're stuck with doddering, clueless ol' Uncle Pop-Pop for the time being). In any event, I'm intrigued.

Deadline doesn't say when Den Of Thieves 2 might go in front of cameras, but we'll keep you informed as further updates arrives. And, hopefully, next time we'll have a more informed party to deliver said updates when the time comes. Stay tuned, gentle readers.