UPDATE 10/5/2016: Warner Bros. has set a June 8, 2018 release for the film, so it’s definitely a go!
Previous announcement follows below…
There’s an all-woman “Ocean’s Eleven” film in the works, which will be titled “Ocean’s Eight,” and will be 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, with a previously-announced cast that includes Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter and Mindy Kaling starring.
Announced today, filling out the principal cast who will make up the “Eight” are Rihanna, Anne Hathaway, and Awkwafina (the Asian-American rapper/comedian/actress). Obviously that leaves one slot open, meaning there’s likely still at least one more actress to be cast.
Specifics on the plot for “Ocean’s Eight” are still mostly underwraps, although, 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.”
There were rumors that Sandra Bullock’s character is the ex-con sister of George Clooney’s Danny Ocean from Steven Soderbergh’s trilogy, but Ross hasn’t confirmed any of that. The story reportedly centers on a group of eight thieves who plan on stealing an expensive necklace from the Met Ball, while framing a gallery owner for the crime.
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 recently booked 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.
