Den of Thieves 3is officially in the works, and after whereDen of Thieves 2leaves the story, there is room for some more actors to join the cast next. The first two films revolved around Donnie (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) and Big Nick (Gerard Butler) during various heists. While they are at the core of the crime action series, bothDen of Thievesmovies include an ensemble cast. This allowed Pablo Schreiber and 50 Cent to be in the first film, while Evin Ahmad and Salvatore Esposito were among the new additions toDen of Thieves 2’s cast.
Based onDen of Thieves 2’s ending, the next installment will likely revolve around Donnie working for the Italian mafia, while Big Nick will still be involved in some capacity. This sets the stage for a new heist, which should help the franchise open its doors wider. Jackson Jr. and Butler will still be thestars ofDen of Thieves 3as the only confirmed returning cast members so far. However, with the new villains and associates needed in an increasingly international franchise,Den of Thieves 3’s cast should grow considerably. We have ideas for who should jump aboard.
10Jon Bernthal
Bernthal Is Great In Small, But Explosive Roles
Jon Bernthal is a well-known actor thanks to his roles in TV shows likeThe Walking Dead,The Bear,Daredevil, andThe Punisher. He also has plenty of movie experience in the action/crime genre, ranging from mid-budget standalone films, small indies, and even some bigger hits. Whether itsSicario,Those Who Wish Me Dead,Widows,The Accountant, orFury, Bernthal has repeatedly proven himself to be a captivating screen presence who can play a wide range of characters.
It is easy to imagine Jon Bernthal sliding into a role inDen of Thieves 3. He could be a former partner of Big Nick’s sent to track him down, a fellow corrupt cop working as a criminal internationally, or be the head of a rival mafia or criminal organization.Bernthal’s tenacity and action experience would make him an excellent additionopposite Jackson Jr. and Butler, potentially occupying a similar space as Pablo Schreiber did in the first movie. He could even be Merrimen’s older brother if they wanted.
9Frank Grillo
Grillo Is No Stranger To Action Movies
TheDen of Thievesmovies have a practical, grounded approach to the action that rests on car chases, shootouts, and hand to hand combat. Anyone who is part of the franchise who is well-suited to operate in those scenes is an added benefit at this stage. That’s why someone like Frank Grillo would be an excellent fit. He’s been in some of the biggest movies of all-time and several smaller franchises, but he gives it his all each time.
Frank Grillo starred alongside Russell Crowe in 2021’s Copshop
Between playing Crossbones inCaptain America: The Winter Soldierand being a lead in thePurgemovies,Grillo has proven he’s a capable action star in leading or supporting roles. Joining theDen of Thieves 3cast might not give him a leading role, but a juicy, secondary part could be his. There is no doubt that he could play a smug, confident, and authoritative character who is accustomed to living life on either side of the law. That could be just whatDen of Thieves 3needs.
8Eiza González
González Can Add Some International Intrigue
Den of Thieves 2made some improvements for the franchise in terms of going beyond a testosterone-led cast, butDen of Thieves 3can do better. Donnie worked for Jovanna previously, and now that she’s in custody, there’s room for another actress to enter the mix. That’s where Eiza González becomes a potentially great addition to the threequel’s ensemble.
González is already familiar with action/crime movies thanks toBaby Driver, and she’s proven her action capabilities in several other projects. She could very smoothly enter this franchise as a femme fatale type or a seasoned criminal who used her looks and charm to disarm her targets. And with the franchise expanding further into international territory, González could helpDen of Thieves 3build in connections to other mafias or Mexican cartels.
7Russell Crowe
Crowe Could Be An Incredible New Villain For The Franchise
With Donnie and Big Nick seemingly reconciling their relationship afterDen of Thieves 2, the next film will need a villain of some sort for them to go up against together. The franchise’s current trajectory suggests it will be the boss of another powerful criminal organization of some kind who has a history with the Italians. Russell Crowe is best known for playing the hero in epics likeGladiator, but he’s alsorepeatedly proven he can be a terrific villain, which is how he could fit intoDen of Thieves 3.
The idea of Crowe being the new heavy in theDen of Thievesfranchise would be a casting that could set up the series for success beyond the third entry. The Oscar-winning actor can add nuance and gravitas to any character he plays. That’s something that could really benefitDen of Thieves 3and potentially help the overall worldbuilding involved in a growing franchise. Plus, afterDen of Thieves 2’s box office, adding someone of Crowe’s caliber and box office pedigree could help.
6Djimon Hounsou
Hounsou Is Always Terrific At Humanizing His Characters
Djimon Hounsou joining theDen of Thieves 3cast would be another possibility that would work on several levels. From a story and franchise perspective, adding the West African actor would further push the franchise into international waters. Just as the second film went to Europe, the third film could expand beyond the Italian countryside. Exactly how that would connect to whoever Hounsou would play is dependent onDen of Thieves 3’s story.
Djimon Hounsou has been in two previous Gerard Butler movies: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life and How To Train Your Dragon 2
Still, Hounsou has a great track record of being a humanizing presence in his movies. No matter what type of character he plays, he is always able to ground them in reality, human emotions, and strong core values.It would be a lot of fun to see Hounsou work as a force trying to stop Big Nick and Donniein the third film - such as by playing a mercenary hired to take them out for their previous actions - or work alongside them.
5Terry Crews
Crews Can Bring The Muscle & Humor
Den of Thieves 2took the franchise in a slightly new direction by tweaking the action sequences and adding more humor to the film. IfDen of Thieves 3is going to continue that trend, then someone like Terry Crews would be a great addition to the series. He’s no stranger to big action movie franchises thanks to theExpendablesmovies, but he’s also established his comedic timing through performances like inBrooklyn Nine-Nine. He alsostarred with Gerard Butler inGamer.
Terry Crews would be a casting option forDen of Thieves 3, whichwould bolster the film’s comedic and action possibilities. He always looks the part of an action star thanks his massive frame and muscles, and the series could make good use of both in a variety of fight scenes. And while Donnie’s crews have not relied on muscle too much in the past, perhaps that will change in the threequel. Making him part of the core ensemble would allow Crews to join in on the comedic riffing between Jackson Jr. and Butler.
4Morena Baccarin
She Already Has Great Chemistry With Gerard Butler
Morena Baccarin has done it all, from sci-fi to romance to action to comedy to horror, over her career. Best known for roles inFirefly,Deadpool, andGotham, joiningDen of Thieves 3would give her another opportunity to do a few of these genres once more. And to make it even better,it’d mark a reunion between her and Gerard Butler, who have starred in theGreenlandmovies together.
There are several different ways for Baccarin to enter theDen of Thievesfranchise, but a natural one would be as some type of new love interest for Big Nick.Den of Thieves 2showed his divorce is finalized and had him quickly try to make moves on Jovanna. It’d make sense thatDen of Thieves 3could give him a new love interest, with Baccarin being an ideal option. Regardless of whether this character is a regular citizen who becomes wrapped up in Big Nick’s schemes or a fellow cop or criminal, she could make it work.
3Scott Adkins
One Of The Best Action Movie Stars Around
Scott Adkins is a name that a lot of casual audiences may not know, but die-hard action and mixed-martial-arts movie viewers are well aware of him. He had a huge moment thanks toJohn Wick: Chapter 4by playing Killa. Adkins has plenty of action movies and franchises under his belt already. IfDen of Thieves 3wants to up the ante in that department, Adkins would be an easy way to do that.
TheDen of Thievesmovies have not been too focused on hand-to-hand fighting for its action to this point. The gun fights and car chases can still be thrilling, but it would be smart to add a new element at some point. There’s arguably no better way to do that than by adding someone of Adkins' skills.He’d immediately raise the bar for any action scenesand allow the franchise to really branch out. Whether he’s working with Donnie and Big Nick or fighting them, it’s a great match.
2David Harbour
A Bit Of Comedy & Star Power
David Harbour has become a very popular actor in Hollywood thanks toStranger Thingsand the MCU. But he’s not opposed to doing some smaller action movies now and then, as proven withViolent Nightor his upcoming role in Jason Statham’sA Working Man. If he’s looking to continue that trend,Den of Thieves 3could be an exciting next opportunity.
Harbour is consistently bringing humor to a lot of the projects he’s involved in, as well as a rough-around-the-edges and jaded personality. As the criminal adventures of these movies continue, there’s room for a character like that. All the smoking, drinking, and sleeping around Harbour’s Hopper did early on inStranger Thingscould evenmake him a good match to be Big Nick’s brother- depending on what type of Scottish accent he could pull off.
1Sofia Boutella
Boutella Is A Chameleon Who Can Fit In Anywhere
Sofia Boutella burst onto Hollywood’s scene in 2015 withKingsman: The Secret Service, and she has played a variety of roles since then. Whether it’s a reluctant leader, an ancient villain, a normal romantic interest, or a highly skilled assassin, there are a lot of archetypes she’s well suited for that aDen of Thieves 3story is likely to incorporate. In any capacity,it would be a welcomed development to have Boutella join the ensemble franchise.
The French-Algerian actress would also fit as part of the franchise’s international expansion. She’s a recognizable face but not a household name who could become part of the core group of characters surrounding Big Nick and Donnie inDen of Thieves 3and beyond. Her agility from dancing could even come in handy as someone part of a heist crew. This could be her shot to finally find a recurring franchise after failing to do so withStar Trek,The Mummy, andRebel Moon.
