Den of Thieves 3: Gerard Butler Sequel Finally Eyes a Release Window
Den of Thieves 3 is closing in on a release window, hot on the heels of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’s January 2025 debut, with Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. poised to return—even as the threequel’s plot stays locked down.
Den of Thieves 3 is happening, but if you were hoping to see it anytime soon, take a breath. The latest update basically points to a long runway before we get another Gerard Butler vs. O'Shea Jackson Jr. cat-and-mouse shootout.
The update: O'Shea is training... for a while
O'Shea Jackson Jr. dropped a pretty telling hint on Instagram alongside a gym photo, writing:
9 months down. Give me another 9 and it's GGs. Meh. Let's call it another 6 months. D3N of THI3V3S. Den 3 comin. (Insert evil laugh).
Translation: he has already been training for nine months, wants several more, and is clearly getting ready for Den 3. That reads like he is still in the pre-production conditioning phase, not on set yet. For an action franchise, this is very inside baseball in a good way — these guys put in serious time before cameras roll.
So when could Den of Thieves 3 actually arrive?
Short answer: do not expect it before 2027. If Jackson is still in the gym phase now, cameras likely will not start rolling until 2026, and even a smooth shoot plus post-production would push a release into the following year. It lines up with what fans have been hearing — a 2027 window feels like the realistic target.
- January 2025: Den of Thieves 2: Pantera hits theaters
- January: Jackson talks future plans with Variety and keeps the door wide open on more sequels — he even jokes he wants to work with Gerard Butler 'until he's 90'
- Now: Instagram update suggests more months of training before production
- Likely next steps: filming in 2026, release window not before 2027
Where the franchise stands
Den of Thieves 2 had a modest box office run, but the third movie was announced shortly after the sequel arrived. The plot for Den 3 is locked down tight for now — no story details yet — but the core team looks intact. Christian Gudegast is expected to return to direct, with Jackson back as Donnie Wilson and Butler as Nick O'Brien.
Jackson has been vocal about wanting to keep the quality bar high. He said he is all-in on continuing the series with Butler, but not if it means watering it down. In his words, they will not make the next one unless it is right and it feels like the same thing audiences fell for in the first place.
Bottom line: Den of Thieves 3 is coming, the guys are gearing up, but the heist will have to wait — 2027 is your safest bet.