Julia Roberts Turns to Brad Pitt and George Clooney After Her Career-Worst Flop—And They Don’t Hold Back
Stung by After the Hunt’s box office flop, Julia Roberts is reportedly eyeing a comeback with Brad Pitt and George Clooney, returning to the A-list formula she trusts to reignite her big-screen momentum.
Julia Roberts is reportedly licking her wounds after After the Hunt face-planted at the box office, and the rumor mill says she might go back to the Brad-and-George playbook. Honestly, if you want a crowd-pleaser, teaming with Brad Pitt and George Clooney is about as safe as Hollywood gets. And right on cue, Clooney says the next Ocean's is finally moving.
The rumor: Julia wants to run it back with Brad and George
Per a tabloid report (via Yahoo), Roberts was disappointed by After the Hunt's performance and is looking to re-team with the guys she trusts most. The report claims she has already told them she is in for the next Ocean's movie they are putting together. Supposedly, a big part of this is personal: she does not put her faith in many people, but she does with Clooney and Pitt, and they, in turn, hype her up and treat her like the A-list royalty she is. If you had to name a blockbuster trifecta from that era, it is them.
Context: After the Hunt did not land
After the Hunt, a psychological thriller from director Luca Guadagnino that was positioned as Roberts' awards play, earned just $9 million at the box office (via Box Office Mojo). That is a tough outcome for a project that looked like an Oscar pivot on paper, which explains the appeal of going back to something bulletproof.
Why this reunion makes sense: the numbers back it up
Every time Roberts has paired with Pitt and/or Clooney, audiences have shown up. A quick refresher on their track record, with budgets vs. worldwide grosses:
- The Mexican (2001) — $40M budget, $145M worldwide
- Ticket to Paradise (2022) — $60M budget, $168M worldwide
- Money Monster (2016) — $27M budget, $93M worldwide
- Ocean's Eleven (2001) — $85M budget, $450M worldwide (via The Numbers)
- Ocean's Twelve (2004) — $110M budget, $362M worldwide (via The Numbers)
- Ocean's Thirteen (2007) — $85M budget, $311M worldwide (via The Numbers)
Short version: Roberts plus Pitt and/or Clooney has equaled reliable box office for two decades. If the goal is a win on opening weekend, history says this is the move.
Ocean's 14: Clooney says it is finally happening
Meanwhile, separate from the rumor, Clooney just gave a real update to E! News: the next Ocean's has its budget approved and is actively lining up. The biggest hurdle is the obvious one — getting everyone in the same place at the same time — but the target is to start shooting next year, roughly nine to ten months from now.
"It is just setting a start date for us. We will probably start shooting in about nine or 10 months... Yeah, Brad, Matt (Damon) and Don (Cheadle), and Julia (Roberts). I had dinner last night with Julia. They are all still really dear friends, and so the chance to work together would be fun."
Translation: the core crew is either in or very close, and Roberts is very much part of the conversation. If that timeline holds, expect cameras to roll next year with the usual suspects back at the table.
The takeaway
The Roberts-Pitt-Clooney chatter is unconfirmed, so keep a pinch of salt handy. That said, the Ocean's machine looks to be firing up, and if Roberts wants a clean box office rebound after After the Hunt, rejoining that crew is the surest bet she has.
FYI: streaming date
After the Hunt hits Prime Video on Thursday, November 20, 2025.