The heist isn’t over just yet, as George Clooney and Brad Pitt are reportedly circling a new director for the next installment of the ‘Ocean’s’ franchise. Deadline reports that Edward Berger is being eyed to helm the latest entry, tentatively titled ‘Ocean’s 14.’ While nothing is official, in an interview with Uproxx, Clooney confirmed a new script was ready, “We have a really good script for another Oceans now, so we may end up doing another one. It’s actually a great script.”
The ‘Ocean’s’ series began with 2001’s ‘Ocean’s Eleven,’ directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring an ensemble cast led by Clooney, Pitt and featured Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, the late Bernie Mac, Julia Roberts, and more. A sleek reimagining of the 1960 Rat Pack film of the same name, ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ was a commercial and critical success, grossing over $450 million worldwide. It blended old Hollywood charm with a modern sensibility, making it a defining heist movie for the early 2000s.
The franchise continued with ‘Ocean’s Twelve’ (2004) and ‘Ocean’s Thirteen’ (2007), both directed by Soderbergh and featuring the original cast, along with new additions like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Al Pacino, and Ellen Barkin. The sequels, though not as universally acclaimed as the first, still maintained the series’ trademark wit and style, with ‘Ocean’s Thirteen’ grossing over $300 million globally.
In 2018, the franchise took a bold new direction with ‘Ocean’s 8,’ a female-led spin-off directed by Gary Ross. Starring Sandra Bullock as Debbie Ocean (Danny Ocean’s estranged sister), the film also featured Rihanna, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, and Awkwafina among others. ‘Ocean’s 8’ was another box office hit, demonstrating the enduring appeal of the ‘Ocean’s’ formula and the appetite for inclusive, women-led narratives in Hollywood.
Should Berger sign on, it would mark the first ‘Ocean’s’ film not directed by Soderbergh. Berger’s reputation as an elite filmmaker has been on the rise, especially after ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ won four Oscars, including Best International Feature.
For now, it’s all still in the realm of speculation, with no formal casting announcements beyond Clooney and Pitt, and no official release date in sight. However, with a script ready and the possibility of Edward Berger taking the helm, the wheels are clearly in motion.
Stay tuned as this story develops.