Warning: Spoilers for Den of Thieves 2: PanteraDen of Thieves 2: Panteramissed Pablo Schreiber as the ruthless Merrimen, but there is a theory about how he could return.Den of Thievesis often compared toHeat, with the two movies involving an obsessive cop and expert thief facing off as the latter pulls off various heists. Much of the story focuses on this toxic macho rivalry between “Big” Nick (Gerard Butler) and heist crew leader Merrimen, withDen of Thievesendingseeing Nick gunning the cornered thief down.
The final twist revealed that Donnie (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) was the real mastermind of the gang. Thus,Den of Thieves 2: Panterarevolves around Nick and Donnie, with the two joining forces as Nick goes rogue. This means the sequel has a more chilled-out vibe compared to the scuzzy antics in the 2018 original.Den of Thieves 3is already in development,but where the story will go next - or who Big Nick’s next foe will be - is currently unknown.
Den Of Thieves 2 Missed Pablo Schreiber’s Merrimen After His On-Screen Death
The Nick/Donnie dynamic just wasn’t the same
Den of Thieves 2may have seen the return of Big Nick and Donnie and featured more elaborate heists, but tonally, it felt very different from the first entry. A large part of this was the focus on Nick and Donnie, which had the opposite dynamic to Nick and Merrimen.Butler vs Schreiber might not carry the same weight as Pacino vs De Niro inHeat, but their chemistry still poweredDen of Thievesand was the main source of conflict. Nick and Merrimen were flipsides of the same coin, which made their final showdown thrilling.
The lack of Merrimen is an issue withPantera. There’s very little tension in the Nick/Donnie relationship, especially since they become fast friends. Their bromance results in a less interesting movie, and while it was a fun time, the sequel missed Merrimen’s energy.A follow-up involving Nick and Merrimen being forced to work together would have made for a more entertaining story- and a wilder one too. Of course, it would have been hard to get around the whole death of Merrimen issue.
A Den Of Thieves Theory Suggests Pablo Schreiber Could Return As Merrimen’s Twin Brother
The old twin brother trick hasn’t been pulled by Hollywood in awhile
Nick shoots Merrimen multiple times inDen of Thieves' finale, so he’s extremely dead by the time the credits roll. The loss of Schreiber was always going to make a sequel tricky, since Merrimen left such an impression. WithDen of Thieves 3already in development followingPantera’ssuccess it would be a good time to reintroduce Merrimen - albeit with a twist.There is a fan theory that Merrimen had a twin brother, which would be one way to bring Schreiber backinto the fold.
Den Of Thieves 2: What Pantera Means & How It Connects To The Story
The action heist sequel carries a conspicuous subtitle, and it directly relates to the international nature of the heist at the heart of the movie.
The old “backup twin” trope is an old one in Hollywood and is used for sequels where the filmmakers want to bring an actor back- despite their character having died. The most famous instance is Jack Palance inCity Slickers II: The Legend of Curly’s Gold, while Chow Yun-fat was brought back as his character’s never before mentioned twin inA Better Tomorrow 2. It’s an inelegant solution, but in a franchise as heightened asDen of Thieves,it could work with the right approach. After all, Merrimen’s family history isn’t probed in any great detail.
Den of Thieveswriter and director Christian Gudegast also co-wroteLondon Has Fallenfor Gerard Butler.
It would be great to see Butler and Schreiber squaring off again for the third film, with Merrimen’s bro seeking revenge for his death.Another approach would be bringing Merriman back in flashbacks, or even making a prequel focused on his crew before the first film’s events.
Pablo Schreiber Returning As Merrimen’s Twin Brother In Future Den Of Thieves Movies Would Be Great
The next Den of Thieves should find room for Pablo Schreiber
The twin idea stretches credulity, but it would be a forgivable sin if it brought Schreiber back. His death in the first outing felt right for the story, but if sequels were always planned, losing Merrimen so early fells like the wrong move.Playing a twin would allow Schreiber to approach the character differently too, and maybe emphasize how Merrimen’s twin differs from his deceased brother.
The Merrimen brother theory is wishful thinking at the moment, as there don’t appear to be plans to bring Schreiber back for another Den of Thieves.
The Merrimen brother theory is wishful thinking at the moment, as there don’t appear to be plans to bring Schreiber back. The thirdDen of Thieveswill probably see Nick chasing after Donnie again, though their friendship might make things awkward.Given thatPanterafelt so different from the original, a third movie might switch genres againto keep things fresh.
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera
Cast
Sheriff “Big Nick” O’Brien tracks Donnie Wilson to Europe after his daring escape. As Donnie becomes deeply involved with diamond thieves and the Panther mafia, the stakes rise with a plan to rob the world’s largest diamond exchange.
Den of Thieves
Den of Thieves is a gritty crime saga released in 2018, focusing on the intense rivalry between an elite unit of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and a notorious bank robbery crew. The film details their strategic battle as the outlaws aim to accomplish an audacious heist on the Federal Reserve Bank.
