Gerard Butler is set to partner with Derek Kolstad, the creator of the John Wick franchise, for exciting heist thriller Just Watch Me. The film is based on and titled after Jeff Lindsay’s first book in the Riley Wolfe series, Just Watch Me. Lindsay is best known as the author of the Dexter novel series.

As per Deadline, Gerard Butler is eyeing the role of the protagonist of the novel, Riley Wolfe. The synopsis states: "Just Watch Me follows Wolfe, a master thief and expert in disguise who targets the wealthiest 0.1 percent. The likeable bad guy teams up with a master forger named Monique and a team of expert thieves on a job that will make history."

Just Watch Me marks the first collaboration between Butler and Kolstad, who has become one of the hottest writers in Hollywood right now. However, having written the first three movies, Kolstad won’t be a part of John Wick: Chapter 4. He also wrote the acclaimed 2021 action thriller, Nobody, starring Bob Odenkirk and Connie Nielsen. Kolstad will next pen the live-action adaptations of the manga Hellsing and the video game series Just Cause. Here’s what he had to say about his next project, Just Watch Me:

"As both a fan and a friend of Jeff Lindsay, I am excited to bring Just Watch Me to the screen. I’m eager to see Gerard Butler bring Riley Wolfe to cinematic life with the incredible team of Dylan Russell, Scott Steindorff, Alan Siegel, Raven and Sculptor Media."

Warren Goz and Eric Gold are producing Just Watch Me for Sculptor Media (Copshop, The Marksman). Gerard Butler is also producing alongside Alan Seigel under their banner G-BASE Film Production. Just Watch Me was initially conceived as a TV series at Stone Village Films, and the studio is also on board as co-financers. Producer Scott Steindorff teased Kolstad’s unique approach to Lindsay’s book, saying, "Gerry (Butler) and I love the take Derek has on this brilliant book, and we have all the right creative minds to execute this plan."

Just Watch Me doesn’t have a release date yet but is expected to film later this year, likely eyeing an early 2024 premiere.

Gerard Butler Is Currently Busy Making Sequels to His Recent Hits

Den of Thieves Review: Gerard Butler Goes Full on Nicolas Cage
STX Entertainment

Gerard Butler delivered two solid entertainers in the pandemic era –Greenland and Copshop. While they didn’t exactly light the box office on fire, both movies were quite well received by audiences. As a result, Greenland 2: Migration is in development with the original cast and crew returning. However, that isn’t the only sequel Butler is busy with. In fact, Butler will have his hands full for the next few years, filming the sequels to his most famous hits. The fourth film in the Has Fallen series, Night Has Fallen, is currently in production.

A sequel to 2018’s Den of Thieves has also been greenlit. Titled Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, the film follows Butler’s Detective Nick O’Brien as he goes on the hunt for notorious thief Donnie Wilson (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) Meadow Williams will also reprise her role from the 2018 film, while Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson joins as producer. Den of Thieves 2 will be a much bigger and more glamorous movie. Set in Europe, Butler has described the film as a "more fun, sexy journey." Den of Thieves: Pantera begins filming in Serbia and France this spring.