Q&A With Cast Of Den Of Thieves (Gerard Butler, 50 Cent, O’Shea Jackson Jr.)

Den of Thieves, the action-packed heist thriller, is one of the most anticipated releases of the year. We had the exclusive opportunity to join a small group of journalists in a roundtable discussion with the film’s stars: Gerard Butler, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Shea Jackson Jr., and Pablo Schreiber. What followed was a candid and entertaining dive into the making of the film, complete with behind-the-scenes stories and unexpected twists.

Casting Surprises and Character Shifts

Shea Jackson Jr. shared a surprising revelation about his casting process:
“I heard about the film for a while before I got the good news. Actually, I was supposed to play Evan Jones’ character. About a week prior, they told me, ‘No, you’re going for Donnie.’ So, you know, that worked out well.”

We can’t imagine anyone else as Donnie, and Jackson Jr. agreed the change was a stroke of luck.

Pablo Schreiber revealed that his character was also shuffled during development:
“This script has been around Los Angeles for about 10 years. I had just come off a movie with The Rock, and he told me, ‘I was supposed to do Den of Thieves eight years ago!’ Sylvester Stallone was originally supposed to play my role. It’s a very different movie, and I feel honored to have brought it to the screen.”

Schreiber praised the film’s moral complexity, noting:
“This isn’t just a good guys vs. bad guys story. The robbers bring so many shades of humanity to the table.”

Gerard Butler: Living the Role of Big Nick

Gerard Butler, who plays the gritty and complex “Big Nick” O’Brien, immersed himself deeply into the role. The film was a passion project for him and director Christian Gudegast, with over six years of preparation. Butler recalled a memorable moment during one of their many dinners:
“Christian was explaining a particular scene and said, ‘See how you’re holding that glass? That’s Big Nick.’ As we talked more, I started to become Big Nick. That night, I accidentally ate two plates of raw chicken I thought was sashimi!”

Butler’s dedication to embodying his character paid off, resulting in a protagonist who blurs the line between hero and antihero.
“There’s a fine balance with a character like Nick,” Butler explained. “He’s a cop trying to bring down the bad guys, but he’s also willing to do some low-life things to get there.”

Avoiding Clichés and Keeping Audiences Hooked

The cast highlighted how the film steers clear of tired heist movie tropes:

Shea Jackson Jr.: “Our goal is to keep the audience engaged. You don’t want anyone thinking, ‘I’ll go grab some snacks.’ You’ve got to keep them on the edge of their seats.”

50 Cent: “A lot of heist movies are just about the heist. This film goes deeper. We worked through countless retakes and rewrites to perfect it—not just for ourselves, but for the audience.”

Favorite Scenes and What Could Have Been

Despite extensive rewrites and reshoots, the cast shared some of their favorite moments that made the final cut:

Gerard Butler: “The prom scene with Shea’s on-screen daughter is my favorite. It almost didn’t make it into the film, but I’m glad it did.”

Shea Jackson Jr.: “What really stuck out to me was when Big Nick confronts his wife and her new guy. That scene feels so raw and relatable.”

When asked what they’d change about the film, Jackson Jr. jokingly replied:
“More Shea Jackson Jr.!”

Meanwhile, Schreiber teased:
“You’ll have to see the movie to find out what happens with the heist, but maybe I’d tweak the outcome.”

A Film of Alpha Males and Complex Layers

The cast agreed that Den of Thieves is more than a heist thriller. It’s a character-driven story where both the “Regulators” (cops) and “Outlaws” (robbers) are evenly matched, creating an intense cat-and-mouse dynamic.

Butler summed it up:
“Every man in this film is an alpha male, but you won’t see stronger bonds between characters. We respected each other and gave it our all.”

Don’t Miss Den of Thieves

Den of Thieves hits theaters on January 19th. With its mix of intense action, complex characters, and a fresh take on the heist genre, this is one film you won’t want to miss. Check out oure movie review here, and watch the trailer below.