'Army of Thieves' Ending Explained: Did Ludwig ever reunite with Gwendoline?
Spoilers for 'Army of Thieves'
Netflix just dropped 'Army of Thieves' and we couldn't stop smiling. The movie is the prequel to 'Army of the Dead' and follows a heist of a lifetime with Ludwig Dieter (Matthias Schweighöfer). We are told about four legendary safes made by Hans Wagner a gifted locksmith that have their roots in Norse mythology. The Rheingold, The Valkyrie, the Siegfried, and the Götterdämmerung are the safes that form the mysterious Ring Cycle and can only be solved by those who are truly worthy of its secrets. Sebastian Schlencht-Wohnert aka Ludwig Dieter, a genius safecrackers' dull life is turned around when he gets recruited by Gwendoline(Nathalie Emmanuel) and her team of international bank thieves. The mission: to crack three of Wagner's safes before they're decommissioned. The Götterdämmerung is the one evasive safe and tomb of Wagner whose exact location is a mystery.
As they rob each safe in the Ring cycle order they head to Paris and Prague cracking the Rheingold and the Valkyrie successfully. Hot on their heels is the Interpol led by Delacroix (Jonathen Cohen) who keeps missing the group. The second safe although cracked lands the team in trouble as security notices their hacking and a fight ensues. Brad (Stuart Martin) who likes Gwendoline and hates the fact that Sebastian is interested in her, pushes him out of the van as they make a close escape. Alone Sebastian barely escapes and goes back home. Gwen who's had enough of Brad's behavior leaves the group with Korina (Ruby O. Fee) following suit. Rolph(Guz Khan) and Brad who were in it for the money and not the quest drive off. The women decide to carry out the last heist themselves and apologize to Sebastian. The trio form a new team as they put their plan in action to crack the Siegfried, the toughest of the lot.
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What happens at the end of 'Army of Thieves'
We see the Interpol already anticipate their next move with them also being able to eavesdrop on the trio's communications, receiving the knowledge of the timings of the heist. But the smart gang had already planned everything in advance and had the bank move forward the time of the switching of the safe. Gwendoline serves as the driver as Sebastian tries to crack the safe en route. Brad and Rolph are back and pursuing the trio. Korina sees Brad take off after tracking Gwen but is caught by Delacroix. Sending a final warning text to the team she is taken away. Gwen and Sebastian manage to open the safe and pile the cash in bags to take when Brad and Rolph arrive. Brad pulls a gun on them asking her to take him back. Disgusted and angry she pulls her own gun out with Brad's gun being a blank. She had disabled it a while ago due to his unpredictable stunts. The two tie up the men and make off with their car.
But that's not the happy end we get. As Sebastian and Gwendoline confess their feelings and kiss we see Delacroix arrive moments later. The two were going to make their getaway in a boat but are interrupted by the determined officer. Gwendoline who has been wanted internationally for years tries to bribe him at first but later decides to tur herself in. But only on one condition: Sebastian gets to be free and leave. As she pleads about him not being a criminal but just an ordinary, nobody we see Sebastian wanting to stay with her. Insisting he should go, she promises to reunite with him after she gets out. Delacroix agrees as Sebastian tearfully leaves. We see him look at passports and tickets to the USA that she had made for him as they intended to go to Nevada to look for the last safe - the Götterdämmerung. His name reads Ludwig Dieter which he had shared with her was the name of the comic book character he drew. Of all the people in the world he only wants to be with her and will wait for the day to be reunited with her at the vault of Götterdämmerung.
The end credits scene shows Ludwig in California after a few years working in a shop. We see Scott Ward (Dave Bautista) and Maria Cruz( Ana De La Reguera) from the previous film approach him for a major job, which signals the start of 'Army of the Dead'. The movie purposely showed Ludwig having nightmares about zombies attacking him as he cracks a safe throughout 'Army of Thieves' to set up this moment. They lay out the blueprint for the Götterdämmerung with Ludwig smilingly admitting that he doesn't know if he can open it, but he's their greatest chance at cracking it.
'Army of Thieves' is now streaming on Netflix.
