Gerard Butler didn’t have the best time filming Den of Thieves 2: Pantera as he shot the movie “with a freshly torn ACL.” In a new interview, the actor revealed that he filmed the action-intense movie while injured.

Hitting theaters a full seven years after the sleeper hit original, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (out Friday) takes place immediately following the events of the first film, with Butler's sheriff "Big Nick" O'Brien hunting Jackson Jr.'s master thief Donnie Wilson, who escaped to Europe and is already busy planning another heist.

Butler's brusque, beady-eyed, scowling-hulk charisma has aged well. A quick-fire actor in a caveman's body, he has the ability to lift a piece of pulp so that it almost seems like a real movie.

Christian Gudegast’s juiced-up “Heat” homage “Den of Thieves” has become a bit of a cult hit in the seven years since it was released, due in large part to co-star Gerard Butler’s boisterously haggard performance as “Big Nick” O’Brien,

Gerard Butler injured himself directly before filming Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, making his on-screen pain all the more convincing. The 55-year-old Scottish actor reportedly filmed much of the high-octane heist sequel with one leg completely out of action.