Den of Thieves 3is officially in the works, and with how the second film ends, there are already a few waysDen of Thieves 2: Panterasets up the sequel. The second installment of Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s crime action franchise finally arrived in 2025 in theaters. Shortly after Lionsgate released the movie, it was officially confirmed that Big Nick and Donnie would be back.Den of Thieves 3is now in developmentwith writer/director Christian Gudegast returning alongside the two lead stars. Other details, like the story, remain unconfirmed.
Yet,Den of Thieves 2’s endingprovides several clues for what could come in the next installment. The movie wraps up its World Diamond Center heist and delivers a few surprises for Big Nick and Donnie. The very end is all about positioning the characters and franchise up for ongoing adventures. While there will certainly be another heist andnew cast members inDen of Thieves 3, what will come next in the series is set up in particular ways throughoutDen of Thieves 2. This includes teases for what’s next for Donnie and Big Nick individually and together.
5Donnie Working For The Italian Mafia Is Set Up For Den Of Thieves 3
He Has A New Boss After His Freedom
One of the most blatant pieces ofDen of Thieves 3setup inDen of Thieves 2is how Donnie’s story ends. Instead of staying in prison after Big Nick betrayed the Panthers, he’s broken out of a transport bus and greeted by the Italian mafia, known as The Octopus. They confirm that he now works for them after they were impressed with his previous work. There’s a direct tease that Donnie is ready to get to work on whatever the Italians want him to steal next.
Every Returning Character In Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera
Den of Thieves 2 picks up where the first movie left off with several actors reprising their roles for an exciting new heist with bigger stakes.
While we don’t know what the Italians are after, it’s clear that this is whereDen of Thieves 3’s story will begin at the very least. His next heist for the mafia could be featured as the threequel’s opening set piece or be what the entire plot is built around. In any case, it’s clear thatDen of Thieves 2’s conclusion is only the beginning of Donnie and the Italian mafia working together. What victories or defeats come as a result of this partnership is forDen of Thieves 3to explore.
A Return To Los Angeles Is Unlikely
It’s also become clear thatDen of Thieves 3will be another internationally-focused story. Donnie’s alliance with the Italian mafia suggests this, but so too does the glimpse of Big Nick staying abroad. He’s last seen driving through the mountainous countryside of an undisclosed foreign country. There’s no indication that he or the franchise are leaving Europe anytime soon.
This is notable as Big Nick could have returned to Los Angeles after helping take down the Panthers to resume his regular life in America. Instead,Den of Thieveswill continue copyingFast & Furiousby embracing an international setting.
3Donnie’s Text To Big Nick Sets Up Their Reunion In Den Of Thieves 3
They’re Poised To See Each Other Again
There’s no mystery about the future of Big Nick and Donnie’s relationship inDen of Thieves 3. Big Nick’s betrayal could have severed the blossoming bromance permanently. But, Donnie texts him,“And the tiger changes stripes. All the cats out of the cage. C U soon, Fraulein.“That makesBig Nick smile at the end ofDen of Thieves 2and promises to audiences that Donnie and Big Nick will be reunited in the threequel.
What’s more telling is the implication that Donnie and Big Nick could officially be on the same side from the jump.Big Nick was part of the Italian mafia’s plan to break Donnie out of prison, and it appears he’s ready to embrace the criminal lifestyle fully. That should mean more of the Big Nick and Donnie bromance as they become partners on the next heist.
2The Pantera Crew Should Factor Into Den Of Thieves 3
We Probably Haven’t Seen The Last Of Them
Donnie and Big Nick might be on good terms inDen of Thieves 3, but the sequel will also likely explore the full fallout of how he betrayed the Pantera crew. Jovanna and Slavko are the only remaining Pantera members alive and in prison. However, Donnie’s text saying"all cats out of the cage"could imply that he wasn’t the only person who escaped jail.Jovanna and Slavko could also be freeand ready to work another job.
Even if Jovanna and Slavko are not already free of prison, that could be an element ofDen of Thieves 3’s story. Big Nick will need to apologize for betraying them if he hopes to rekindle the romance with Jovanna. If his apology and attempts to work with them does not work, then the Panthers could become an opposing heist team working against Big Nick and Donnie to twist up the franchise’s character dynamics further.
1Den Of Thieves 2 Leaves A Merrimen Storyline For The Third Film To Resolve
Merrimen’s Girlfriend Still Wants His Money
Merrimen may have died inDen of Thieves' ending, butDen of Thieves 2teased that his storyline might not be over.Merrimen’s girlfriend Holly returns to blackmail Big Nickuntil she gets the $7 million cut that belonged to Merrimen from the Federal Reserve Bank heist. She does help point Nick in Donnie’s direction to try and get the money she thinks she’s owed, but the movie doesn’t resolve her blackmail plot.
That means this could be an element forDen of Thieves 3to answer. How this would happen remains unclear, although the theories about Merrimen’s brother entering the picture as part of this plotline would be fun. It’d be weird if the franchise just never addressed this subplot afterDen of Thieves 2: Pantera, soDen of Thieves 3is the next chance to do so.
