Interview - Christian Gudegast (DEN OF THIEVES, DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA)

·50 min·5 clips

Sleazoids hosts sit down with Christian Gudegast, director of Den of Thieves, to explore his journey from hip-hop videos to crafting cult heist films.

This episode of Sleazoids features a special interview with Christian Gudegast, writer-director of Den of Thieves and its sequel Den of Thieves 2: Pantera. Hosts Josh Lewis and Jamie Miller introduce Gudegast as a filmmaker who blends trashy B-movie elements with skilled craftsmanship. Gudegast begins by recounting his early film influences, citing The Shining as a pivotal movie that sparked his obsession with filmmaking. He attended UCLA film school, where his student film won a national award in 1992. Gudegast then sold his first script, Black Ocean, to Oliver Stone, shifting his career from hip-hop music videos to screenwriting. He performed extensive uncredited script-doctoring on films like The Rundown, Speed Racer, and Immortals, which delayed his directing ambitions. Gudegast explains how his thorough pre-production, including a 250-page lookbook, helped secure his directorial debut. He discusses his father, actor Eric Braeden, noting his mother's cinematic influence more than his father's. The conversation turns to Den of Thieves, with Gudegast addressing its cult following and the marketing that framed it as an urban film. He contrasts his realistic portrayal of LA crime, based on personal research, with Michael Mann's stylized version in Heat. Gudegast details working with Gerard Butler on the Big Nick character, emphasizing authenticity over judgment. For Den of Thieves 2, he drew inspiration from French heist films like Rififi and Le Cercle Rouge, focusing on the physical silence of heists. Gudegast reveals the sequel was shot in Europe, incorporating elements like Interpol dynamics and a buddy movie structure. He describes filming a complex car chase with electric Porsches, using innovative roof pods for stunt drivers. A production challenge arose when a tunnel location was lost, forcing the scene to be shot in seven-second increments. Gudegast also discusses his collaboration with composer Kevin Matley on the electronica soundtrack, influenced by Tangerine Dream. He mentions future projects, including Den of Thieves 3, a Viking epic called Berserker, a pirate film Black Flag, and an action comedy Empire with Gerard Butler. The episode concludes with Gudegast recommending films like The Wages of Fear, Sexy Beast, and the Pusher trilogy.

As heard by us

A crime-film interview that lingers on craft, silence, and the future of the Den of Thieves series.

The episode makes room for a lively conversation with Christian Gutgast, tracing a path from UCLA hip-hop music video director to industry script polisher and then to the filmmaker behind Den of Thieves and Den of Thieves 2 Pantera.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

For when you want crime-movie brain food with a side of franchise lore.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from SLEAZOIDS