An “Ocean’s Eleven” prequel was originally set to shoot in late 2023, with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling leading the cast. Jay Roach was directing, and Linus Sandgren (“La La Land,” “Saltburn,” “Babylon”) was lensing.
Two years and many delays later, the project underwent a few key changes in front of and behind the camera: Roach was out, and “Twisters,” “Minari” director Lee Isaac Chung was his replacement. While Robbie is still in, Gosling was replaced by Bradley Cooper.
The project, which is supposed to start shooting this year, has yet again lost a director. Lee Isaac Chung has exited the project, “amicably,” or so we’re told, due to “creative differences.” A search for a new director is underway.
Although plot specifics are said to be “locked,” according to Deadline, Showbiz411’s Roger Friedman previously reported that the film would be titled “Oceans,” with Cooper and Robbie playing the parents of Danny Ocean, the character portrayed by George Clooney in Soderbergh’s “Ocean’s Eleven.”
In the film, the Oceans will teach their children—young Danny and Debbie (the latter originally played by Sandra Bullock)—the art of stealing from the rich. Set against the backdrop of the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix, the project was described as a stylish, old-school caper inspired by Hitchcock’s “To Catch a Thief.”
The current screenplay is by Carrie Solomon, who wrote the ill-received 2024 Netflix movie “A Family Affair.” Solomon has no other writing credits listed on her IMDb page.
The ‘Ocean’s’ franchise peaked with its first instalment, both commercially and artistically. Its 2004 sequel, “Ocean’s Twelve,” veered into self-aware experimentation, while 2007’s “Ocean’s Thirteen” course-corrected by returning to the slick, crowd-pleasing formula of the original.
George Clooney recently confirmed that he would be shooting “Ocean’s 14” later this year with Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Don Cheadle all returning — which means ‘Warners’ has two ‘Oceans’ movies potentially going into production this year.