Ocean's Eleven Prequel: Director unexpectedly quits

Setback for the planned "Ocean's Eleven" prequel! Lee Isaac Chung was originally supposed to direct the film. But now the filmmaker has surprisingly dropped out, according to Deadline. Chung had been working on the film's development together with lead actress and producer Margot Robbie. However, according to Warner Bros., there was an "amicable split due to creative differences." Nevertheless, the film studio describes Chung as "a singular filmmaking talent" and emphasizes:

"Our experience with him has only deepened our enthusiasm to collaborate on future projects together."

Lee Isaac Chung impressed with his film "Minari", among others. The drama about a Korean-American family was nominated for six Oscars in 2021, including Best Picture and Best Director. In 2024, he proved that he can also shine as a blockbuster director with the disaster film "Twisters," which grossed an impressive $372 million at the global box office. This probably also recommended him for the prequel to the star-studded crime comedy "Ocean's Eleven," with which director Steven Soderbergh launched an immensely successful film series 25 years ago.

An Ocean's sequel is also planned

Now a new director is being sought for the "Ocean's Eleven" prequel. Carrie Solomon is responsible for the screenplay. The plot of the film is being kept under wraps for now. However, a few years ago there was speculation that the story could be set in 1960s Europe. Jay Roach was initially slated to direct. Margot Robbie's "Barbie" co-star Ryan Gosling was in talks to co-star alongside her. Most recently, however, it was reported that Bradley Cooper could take on the male lead role alongside Robbie instead. It remains to be seen how the "Ocean's Eleven" prequel will develop after Chung's departure.

In any case, the prequel is not the only film planned to continue the "Ocean's" franchise. A sequel, "Ocean's 14", is also in the works, which could see former "Ocean's Eleven" stars such as George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Don Cheadle return to the franchise. "Deadpool 2" director David Leitch is in talks to direct.

Successful film series

Fans of the movie series therefore have every reason to hope that more films from the "Ocean's" franchise will make it to the big screen. Given the huge sums of money that the crime comedies have generated, however, the plans for sequels are not particularly surprising. With the first installment in 2001, Steven Soderbergh made a film that captivated audiences with its incredibly casual staging and the coolness of the numerous stars surrounding lead actor George Clooney. The story of a group of likeable crooks who want to rob a casino in Las Vegas was well received and grossed a whopping $450 million at the global box office.

Under Soderbergh's direction, the two sequels "Ocean's Twelve" and "Ocean's Thirteen" followed in 2004 and 2007. Once again starring Clooney and co., the sequels each grossed over $300 million. Fans had to wait a long time for another installment. Then, in 2018, "Ocean's 8", a spin-off directed by Gary Ross and centered around a female crew led by Sandra Bullock, was released. With box office takings of $297 million, this film also proved that audiences are far from tired of the "Ocean's" universe.