Action star Gerard Butler has had many accidents while filming. He discussed this while supporting his new movie, “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera,” on January 10. The Scottish star shared some stories as the film’s director announced plans for a third movie in the series.
During the filming of “300,” when the cast frequently required medical care, Butler experienced his most dramatic moments. Butler told People magazine that “every day, someone was being taken to the hospital.” He talked about instances where players got hurt badly, including one getting a spear in the eye and others breaking their ankles during fight scenes.
The actor has faced danger in more than one movie. In 2012, Butler needed hospital care and a defibrillator after nearly drowning while filming “Chasing Mavericks.” He has also had some close calls, like accidentally hurting Hilary Swank while filming “P.S. I Love You” and nearly shooting Angelina Jolie during a scene in “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider—The Cradle of Life.”
Butler hasn’t let past problems hold him back. He recorded his part as Big Nick in “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” while healing from a torn ACL. Butler’s character and O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s Donnie, who were foes in the first movie, unexpectedly team up in the new film, which takes place in Europe.
Butler, with whom he has worked on several films, including “London Has Fallen” and “Plane,” was praised by director Christian Gudegast for their collaborative work. “He’s a strong guy, and we got along well from the start,” Gudegast said.
Producer Tucker Tooley has announced they are planning a third film, but it will rest on the sequel’s success. Butler assured fans they wouldn’t have to wait another seven years for a new movie. However, co-star O’Shea Jackson Jr. emphasized that focusing on quality’s more important than rushing. Jackson told Variety, “I know how much I want to make these other films, but we can’t lower the quality of this amazing thing we created.”
The series started as a film about a Los Angeles Federal Reserve robbery and has expanded into an international crime thriller. Gudegast and his team have planned the story for the third film, featuring a new foreign location.
