‘Den of Thieves 3’ Teases New Setting as Fans Anticipate Heist Location

Heist franchises thrive on their ability to reinvent themselves, taking their crews to increasingly exotic locales for each new job. Gerard Butler’s ‘Den of Thieves’ series has followed this formula, transitioning from the streets of Los Angeles to the diamond vaults of Europe in its first two films.

With ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’ concluding its storyline in a way that leaves the franchise’s future wide open, fans have been speculating for months about where the crew might strike next. Development on a third film was greenlit almost immediately after the sequel’s release, but solid details regarding its setting have been hard to come by.

Now, star O’Shea Jackson Jr. has provided fans with their first hint about where ‘Den of Thieves 3’ might be headed, even though filming has yet to commence. In an interview promoting his new comedy crime thriller ‘Idiots,’ Jackson shared that his character Donnie’s options for locations are limited due to the story’s progression.

According to Jackson, Donnie “can’t go to the States anymore” after the fallout from the first film’s Federal Reserve heist, which narrows down the realistic settings available for the franchise going forward. When Japan was mentioned during the discussion, Jackson expressed excitement for the idea, although he confirmed that the third movie won’t actually take place there.

“I think it would be so dope if I had a heist movie in Japan. I want to film in Japan, where I can meet my future wife and stay there forever. I feel like that would work,” Jackson said, speaking to ScreenRant.

While Japan seems to be off the table for now, Jackson’s remarks suggest other exciting possibilities for the franchise. The original 2018 ‘Den of Thieves’ concluded with a hint showing Donnie working at a bar across from a diamond exchange, which was later revealed to be based in London rather than the setting of the sequel. Since ‘Pantera’ never directly addressed the London plotline, the door remains open for the threequel to finally resolve that lingering thread.

Franchise creator Christian Gudegast, who has written and directed both previous installments, hinted that a potential idea for the third film could involve Africa, describing it as a “great adventure” during earlier press for ‘Pantera.’ Whether this concept will make it into the final film remains uncertain, especially since production has yet to begin.

Jackson has also previously hinted that his character will undergo a significant physical transformation for the threequel, revealing he’s been on a dedicated fitness journey that will leave Donnie looking noticeably different when the film eventually releases. This detail, combined with the franchise’s history of taking its heists to new corners of the globe, has fans eagerly awaiting any concrete updates on when filming will actually start.

Gerard Butler is expected to reprise his role as Sheriff Nick O’Brien alongside Jackson’s Donnie, continuing the unlikely partnership that has defined the franchise since its inception. With Lionsgate backing the project and Gudegast attached to write and direct once again, the pieces are in place for a third chapter, even if the timeline for production remains frustratingly unclear.

For now, fans will have to continue speculating about exactly where Donnie’s next job will take him, even as Jackson’s comments about Japan have already ignited plenty of excitement for what could be in store for a future installment.

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