Warner Bros. has set a June 8, 2018 release for its all-woman “Ocean’s Eleven” film, which will be titled “Ocean’s Eight,” and is directed by Gary Ross.
In development for at least a couple of years, with “Ocean’s Eleven” director Steven Soderbergh, star George Clooney and producer Jerry Weintraub bringing aboard Olivia Milch to write the script, the cast of “8” includes Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Sarah Paulson, Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, Anne Hathaway, and Awkwafina (the Asian-American rapper/comedian/actress).
Specifics on the plot for “Ocean’s Eight” are still mostly underwraps, although revealed today with the above first-look photo is the following logline: Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) attempts to pull off the heist of the century at New York City’s star-studded annual Met Gala. Her first stop is to assemble the perfect crew. And of course we know who they are.
There were previous rumors that Sandra Bullock’s character is the ex-con sister of George Clooney’s Danny Ocean from Steven Soderbergh’s trilogy, and given her character’s last name, that’s likely.
While doing press for his last film, “The Free State of Jones,” director Gary Ross shared the following in an interview with SlashFilm: “I think it’s a pretty similar tone. You know, Steven Soderbergh and I are incredibly close friends, and we would not have done this if we weren’t. I don’t think he would’ve wanted anyone to do it if we weren’t. This is very much an extension and a continuation. He’s a producer on the movie. In one way or another, this has been a 20-year conversation between Steven and I, collaborating in ways the whole world doesn’t know about: I helped him on the previous ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ films; he shot second unit on ‘The Hunger Games;’ I’ve done ADR lines for him; and he reads all my scripts. It’s a very long, ongoing collaboration. This, I think, is a very seamless process. We’re different filmmakers, obviously, so there will be those differences, but one of the things I’m drawn to is the amazing tone Steven was able to create, and we discuss that a lot. We discuss the cinema a lot, the shooting style, the rhythm, the editing style, and the music. We discuss it all. I’m in no way trying to reinvent the tone, and I’m thrilled and honored to be extending it. It’s really fun to work with.”
But this is yet another high-profile project for Rihanna, who also has a role in Luc Besson’s mega-budgeted scifi epic “Valerian.” She also will be seen in a key role in the upcoming season of A&E’s critically-acclaimed “Bates Motel,” playing Marion Crane – the iconic role originated by Janet Leigh in Alfred Hitchcock’s original film.
