When discussing the greatest bank robbery movies of all time, iconic titles such as Bonnie and Clyde, Dog Day Afternoon, and Heat often come to mind. However, in recent cinema, few films capture the intensity of a bank heist quite like Christian Gudegast?s 2018 thriller, Den of Thieves. This film stands shoulder-to-shoulder with other thrilling narratives like The Town, Point Break, and Hell or High Water. With Gudegast?s latest installment, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, having premiered this January, it?s an opportune moment to delve deeper into the fascinating production journey of the original film.

Despite being a bit lengthy and openly inspired by Michael Mann?s Heat, Den of Thieves premiered in January 2018, achieving commercial success while receiving mixed reviews from critics. The film’s plot revolves around a notorious group of ex-military bank robbers known as The Outlaws, led by Ray Merrimen, portrayed by Pablo Schreiber. Their audacious plan involves stealing a staggering $30 million from the seemingly impenetrable Federal Reserve Building in Los Angeles, often dubbed the bank-robbing capital of the world. This high-stakes scenario sets the stage for an exhilarating narrative.

As the audience witnesses The Outlaws executing their meticulously planned heist with military-like precision, they are also introduced to a tough, morally ambiguous team of detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff?s Department, known as The Regulars. Led by Big Nick O?Brien (played by Gerard Butler), these detectives relentlessly pursue the robbers, creating a gripping cat-and-mouse dynamic. The film skillfully alternates between the perspectives of both the criminals and law enforcement, allowing for a rich exploration of morality and loyalty. Though the premise may seem straightforward, it?s the film?s execution that truly captivates audiences. Now, let?s explore the intriguing journey of Den of Thieves!

Christian Gudegast, a filmmaker hailing from Los Angeles, embarked on his career in the 1990s, securing his first writing credit with the 1997 TV movie Soldier of Fortune. After contributing scripts for films like Rip it Off (2001) and A Man Apart (2003), Gudegast began crafting the screenplay for Den of Thieves as early as 2003. Remarkably, he developed this project over a span of 14 years, originating from a blind deal he and his writing partner secured with New Line Cinema. When the rights expired and New Line lost the property, Den of Thieves found a new home with Relativity Media, a now-defunct independent distributor.

After a lengthy hiatus of over a decade without another writing credit, Gudegast?s breakthrough came in 2016 with the script for London Has Fallen, an action-packed film starring Gerard Butler. Their successful collaboration continued in 2018 with Den of Thieves, marking Gudegast?s directorial debut. The partnership with Butler as Big Nick proved to be a fortuitous match, demonstrating that sometimes, great things take time to develop. The culmination of years of hard work and creative passion resulted in a film that captivated audiences and paved the way for a sequel.

Reflecting on the creative inspiration behind the film, Gudegast expressed:

?I was fascinated by the specificity of their worlds and how these two crews operate. Understanding what they do, and why they do it, became the fuel for the movie.?

With a budget of $30 million, principal photography for Den of Thieves commenced in January 2018 and concluded after an intense 52-day shooting schedule. Although the narrative is set in Los Angeles, the production took place in the Atlanta area, leveraging the state?s enticing tax incentives. For example, the nightclub Ziggy?s in the film was shot at Johnny?s Hideaway in Atlanta. Interestingly, Ziggy is portrayed by Gudegast?s father, Eric Braeden, adding a personal touch to the film.

Addressing the decision to film in Atlanta while portraying Los Angeles, Gudegast emphasized the importance of authenticity. He stated:

?When the production team arrived in Atlanta, I was hyper-specific when looking for how we were going to reproduce those elements there. It was down to how the murals on walls looked, the color scheme, rims on cars. So as careful as we were in choosing our locations, that same specificity applied to the shots where we sort of went for a hot, Los Angeles weather look; kind of smoggy and golden but not pretty. At night, we play with the natural elements and there?s a cooler blue metallic light.?

The Savings & Loan bank depicted in the film was filmed on Lakewood Avenue in Atlanta, while the thrilling confrontation between Big Nick and Merrimen unfolded on Bluff Street. Notably, the only footage filmed in Los Angeles consisted of aerial shots capturing downtown, the Vincent Thomas Bridge, Terminal Island, and the Federal Corrections Institution.

The adrenaline-pumping traffic jam shootout along the Alameda Corridor was executed on Murphy Avenue over a span of 10 days, utilizing four city blocks and resulting in the destruction of 50 out of 250 cars allocated for the scene. The crew fired off approximately ten thousand rounds of ammunition during this intense sequence. To achieve the realistic feel of the shootout, special effects supervisor Yves Debond explained the innovative use of machine guns rigged with trunnion guns: ?which are tubes rigged to go off at the same time as the big machine gun.? The intent was to create a visual experience that felt raw and authentic.

With characters firing up to 30 rounds every two seconds, an astonishing estimated half a million rounds were used during the climactic shootout alone. According to Jackson Jr., local residents were alerted in advance to refrain from contacting law enforcement during the filming, showcasing the scale of this ambitious production.

To prepare for his portrayal of the morally ambiguous Nick O?Brien, Gudegast encouraged Gerard Butler to gain 25 pounds, a request the actor fulfilled. Moreover, Butler drew inspiration from Jay Dobyns, a former Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) agent who risked his life to infiltrate violent gangs in Los Angeles. Dobyns not only inspired Butler?s character but also served as a technical consultant on set. Notably, he made a cameo appearance as a bar patron at the end of the film, adding an authentic touch to the narrative.

In describing the character of Big Nick, Gudegast stated:

?The character?s a silverback gorilla who devours everything within reach,? laughed the director. ?He?s a force. He walks in and he just takes over the environment. Nick is classic. He?s funny and he?s a badass. He?s in major crimes, so he?s got to be ? he?s dealing with the worst of the worst every day, hunting them. We drilled that character all the way down and Gerry was unbelievable.?

Butler also shared his thoughts on what attracted him to the film, saying:

?What I love about this movie is that it has a taste, an ingredient, of many of my favorite films, like Heist and Heat, with touches of a Dog Day Afternoon and The French Connection. But it stands entirely on its own. It may be a complex heist film, but there?s a surprising amount of heart and emotion. It has the potential to become one of those unforgettable movies because of the characters we?ve created.?

In preparation for their roles, Gudegast strategically divided the cast into two groups for training. Prior to filming, boot camps were established, with one side comprising the police detectives and the other side the bank robbers. The actors engaged in extensive weapons training over two weeks to ensure their on-screen gunplay appeared seamless and authentic. They practiced with real firearms to understand their weight and mechanics, while using paintballs for training exercises that involved movement and agility.

This division of training also fostered camaraderie within each group while enhancing their rivalry. Despite training separately, both groups were overseen by real-life military consultant Paul Maurice. The contributions of Maurice and Dobyns significantly bolstered the film’s rugged, masculine aesthetic. Additionally, notable UFC veterans such as Michael Bisping, Max Holloway, John Lewis, and Oleg Taktarov made appearances in supporting roles, reinforcing the film?s action-packed essence reminiscent of classic action films.

Regarding Maurice?s impact, Gudegast remarked:

?He gave the Outlaws tremendous confidence. They trained hard out on the firing range. They drilled in repetition until their movements with the firearms were completely fluid: They could load, unload, change mags ? the way they manipulated the firearms was just awesome, and that was Paul?s doing.?

While Den of Thieves has a runtime of 140 minutes, Gudegast?s original cut exceeded it by 20 minutes. Many of the deleted scenes, available on YouTube, focus on character development, including moments where Big Nick and Enson (Curtis Jackson) spend time with their families between heists. One poignant scene features Nick and Debbie (Dawn Olivieri) addressing their marital issues on the beach, while another showcases Enson interacting with his daughters during breakfast. Interestingly, Gudegast had a different ending in mind for Den of Thieves compared to what was ultimately released in theaters.

The alternate ending, also accessible online, depicts Big Nick discovering that Donnie Wilson (O?Shea Jackson) orchestrated the heist all along. However, instead of escaping to London, Donnie is captured and imprisoned. This alternate conclusion feels more conventional and anticlimactic than the theatrical version and diminishes the potential for a sequel. The ending chosen for the theatrical release allows Den of Thieves 2: Pantera to explore new heists in Europe, ensuring that the narrative continues to evolve.

Before delving into the sequel?s details, it?s essential to acknowledge the original film’s commercial success. Upon its release in early 2018, Den of Thieves grossed an impressive $80 million globally, effectively tripling its modest $30 million budget. Despite critics pointing out the film’s similarities to Heat, Den of Thieves managed to achieve remarkable financial success, making a sequel an inevitable next step. Although it took about seven years for the sequel to come to fruition, audiences can look forward to another exciting and violent chapter in this gripping saga.

Following the success of Den of Thieves, plans for a sequel emerged as early as 2022. Writer and director Christian Gudegast has returned for this next installment, with both Gerard Butler and O?Shea Jackson Jr. reprising their roles. The sequel has reportedly grossed a comparable amount to its predecessor, and excitingly, a third film is already in the works.