It didn’t take long to find a replacement. Just over a week after parting ways with director Lee Isaac Chung due to creative differences, the upcoming Ocean’s 11 prequel has reportedly found a new director, and the studio didn’t need to look far to find him.
Recent reports from World of Reel and other sources suggest Bradley Cooper is now the leading candidate to direct the upcoming prequel film. If true, this means Cooper will both direct and star in the movie, joining Margot Robbie, who is also producing.
Reports that Bradley Cooper might replace Leonardo DiCaprio in the film are currently based on limited information. The story began with a tweet from Matt Belloni of Puck, who stated Cooper is the leading candidate, though no agreements are finalized. Belloni is a respected industry insider – he frequently appears as a television expert and previously led The Hollywood Reporter – but without confirmation from other sources, this remains unverified. However, Cooper would be a logical choice. He’s readily available and has proven his directing talent with critically acclaimed films like A Star Is Born and Maestro.
The quick pace of discussions about Cooper joining the project also makes sense considering Warner Bros.’s situation. After Chung left, many sources pointed out that Warner Bros. needs to move quickly on this film because Paramount is buying the studio. While there isn’t a firm deadline for a merger of this size, Warner Bros. will have less control over its projects after the acquisition. To ensure the Ocean’s prequel happens, it’s logical for them to start filming while they still have full creative control.
Luckily, getting the movie made shouldn’t be too challenging, on paper at least. The film has gone through a few director changes—Carrie Solomon’s screenplay is solid, and she was brought on after Jay Roach left the project. If Bradley Cooper officially agrees to direct, the Ocean’s prequel will have one lead actor directing and another producing, which could finally help them complete the film successfully.
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Look, even if the upcoming Ocean’s prequel doesn’t quite hit the mark, it sounds like there’s still hope for more classic Ocean’s heists down the line. Warner Bros. is apparently working on Ocean’s Fourteen, a proper sequel! Matt Damon did recently suggest it’s not happening immediately, but honestly, this franchise always seems to find a way to keep going, and I’m holding out hope we’ll see another one eventually.
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2026-03-13 16:21