Ocean’s Eleven: Ryan Gosling reportedly in talks with star opposite Margot Robbie in new prequel movie

Ryan Gosling is reportedly in talks to join Margot Robbie in a new Ocean’s Eleven movie. According to Deadline, the pair will reunite in the prequel to the four-time Emmy-winning Jay Roach franchise, set in 1960s Europe. While plot details are still under wraps, reports indicate that it will connect and incorporate elements from the original trilogy, crafted by Steven Soderbergh. In addition to starring in the project, Robbie will produce the film under his LuckyChap banner.

This is the third collaboration between Robbie (The Suicide Squad) and Gosling (Blade Runner 2049), who are currently filming the live-action adaptation of Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig (Little Women). Robbie also made an appearance in Adam McKay’s The Big Short in 2015, in a mock infomercial detailing how the housing stock market works.

Jay Roach’s Ocean’s Eleven prequel still hasn’t been greenlit and is currently in “active development” at Warner Bros. The first reports broke in May, with hints of it being a comedy heist.

Fans can expect a heist story set in the 1960s, via a screenplay written by Carrie Solomon, known for the legal drama series The Good Fight. Roach is the more household name of the two, responsible for the 2012 Emmy-winning Austin Powers film series, Game Change, and Robbie-star Bombshell. The Ocean’s Eleven prequel will mark the second collaboration between Roach and Robbie.

Warner Bros.’ The Ocean’s franchise began in 2001, when Soderbergh (Kimi) brought together a cast of top-notch actors to pull off a heist, for the big screen. The smash hit paved the way for sequels, completing the trilogy with George Clooney, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt leading the way. Ocean’s Eleven grossed $450.7 million (about Rs. 3,600 crore) at the worldwide box office. It had a budget of $85 million (about Rs. 679 crore).

In 2018, a female-centric spin-off film titled Ocean’s 8 opened to mixed reception. It was directed by Gary Ross (The Hunger Games), while Soderbergh and Clooney served as producers. Before the release, Soderbergh said he had no intention of continuing the Ocean’s franchise, citing the death of Bernie Mac, who played Frank Catton in the previous films.

The Ocean’s Eleven prequel is currently in active development and therefore does not have a set release window. The Hollywood Reporter notes that a spring 2023 release is likely – which is surprising, given that cameras are nowhere near rolling on the film.

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