The Ocean’s franchise is set for another reboot, featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in lead roles. Warner Bros. initially announced the new Ocean’s project in August 2022. A recent report indicates that Robbie and Gosling will play the roles of the parents of Danny and Debbie Ocean, originally played by George Clooney and Sandra Bullock in the franchise.
This theory also aligns with the fact that the new film will serve as a prequel to the Ocean’s trilogy set in the 1960s, the same era as the original version with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. Austin Powers director Jay Roach is reportedly hired as the prequel film’s director.
Margot Robbie And Ryan Gosling Reportedly Play Parents To Danny And Debbie Ocean
In 2001, director Steven Soderbergh reimagined the 1960 film Ocean’s Eleven, launching a heist film series starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and others. Clooney played the titular character Danny Ocean in the film. After three successful films with the same cast, the franchise rebooted with an all-female cast led by Sandra Bullock. Bullock played Debbie Ocean, sister to Danny Ocean, in Ocean’s 8.
In 2022, Warner Bros. announced a new Ocean’s prequel project with Margot Robbie. Later, Robbie’s Barbie co-star Ryan Gosling was also roped in to play a lead. According to Roger Friedman of Showbiz411, Robbie and Gosling will play the Oceans, parents to Clooney and Bullock’s character. He shared that this prequel will set up the events of the original trilogy.
Friedman also shared a potential where the Oceans teach their two young children, Danny and Debby, the art of stealing from the rich. The Oceans, like in the previous films, will have a group helping them, played by an ensemble cast of actors. While Robbie’s Bombshell director Jay Roach is reportedly helming the film, Friedman remains uncertain about the writer. His pick would be David Levien and Brian Koppelman, who wrote Ocean’s Thirteen.
However, Deadline reported in 2022 that Carrie Solomon was set to pen the prequel, a news they reiterated in October 2023. Casting announcements are yet to be made for this exciting prequel.
The Producer Earlier Revealed That Margot Robbie’s Film Will Do Right By The Franchise
Josey McNamara, a partner in LuckyChap Entertainment alongside Margot Robbie and her husband Tom Ackerley, serves as one of the producers for the Ocean’s prequel. In an interview with GamesRadar at the BFI London Film Festival, McNamara shared his excitement for the project, assuring that the film would do right by the franchise. McNamara told GamesRadar:
“I can’t really say much, but I think we’re just trying to do right by the franchise. I’m excited for people to experience it when it’s ready.”
He also confirmed the involvement of Ryan Gosling in the film and praised the chemistry between Robbie and Gosling in Barbie. He also hinted at the duo’s potential collaborations outside of these two projects. McNamara added:
“They’re wonderful together. The more projects even outside of that we can have them do would be amazing.”
Besides LuckyChap, director Jay Roach’s Everyman Pictures will also be involved as one of the production houses. Ocean’s 8 director Gary Ross and writer Olivia Milch will serve as executive producers in the film. Meanwhile, fans can enjoy other films in the franchise by streaming them on TBS.
