Margot Robbie as George Clooney’s Mom? Inside the Ocean’s Prequel Buzz and Her Bradley Cooper Team-Up

Margot Robbie is not done raiding studio IP vaults. After Barbie blew up the summer of 2023, she set her sights on another big brand: Ocean's. The project has quietly been shifting behind the scenes, and the latest twist is a doozy.

The setup: a 1960s Europe prequel, with a family twist

This new Ocean's movie was first announced in August 2022, with Robbie leading. Early reporting from Roger Friedman at Showbiz411 painted a pretty specific picture: the film would be set in 1960s Europe and act as a prequel to the Clooney/Pitt trilogy. The angle? Robbie plays the mother of Danny Ocean (George Clooney's character) and, yes, also the mother of Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock's character from Ocean's 8). The rumored storyline even had the parents schooling little Danny and Debbie in the fine art of stylish thievery. Cheeky, but honestly, that tracks for this franchise.

Behind-the-scenes shuffle

Director-wise, the film has traded hands. Variety reported that Lee Isaac Chung (fresh off Twisters) stepped in to direct, taking over from Jay Roach, who was originally attached. The script is by Carrie Solomon, who wrote Netflix's A Family Affair. Expect an ensemble around the parents too — it is an Ocean's movie — but casting beyond the leads remains under wraps.

So... what happened to Gosling?

Originally, the plan sounded like a Barbie reunion. Reports had Ryan Gosling set as Robbie's on-screen partner — essentially the Ocean family patriarch in this prequel. That appears to have changed. Multiple outlets now say Bradley Cooper is in talks to take the lead opposite Robbie. Not a done deal yet, but it sounds real.

This shift is extra spicy because LuckyChap producer Josey McNamara (Robbie's company with Tom Ackerley) had publicly gushed about wanting more projects with Robbie and Gosling together, which made it feel like Gosling was practically locked. Hollywood schedules are chaos; here we are.

Cooper's dance card

Cooper is currently onto his third directing effort after A Star Is Born and Maestro — a film inspired by British comedian John Bishop called Is This Thing On?, starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern. It is set for a world premiere at the New York Film Festival. He also has an ongoing relationship with Warner Bros., with a Bullitt movie in development there, produced with Steven Spielberg.

Clooney's take (and a separate sequel)

When the Robbie/Gosling pairing was first floated in 2023, George Clooney reacted exactly like you want George Clooney to react.

'Margot Robbie's my mother? I've always thought that. And Ryan Gosling is my father, and when you think about it, it makes sense. Truly.'

He probably will not blink if that 'father' shifts to Bradley Cooper.

Separately, Clooney also confirmed to E! News that Ocean's 14 is officially happening. He says he is aiming to reteam with Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Don Cheadle, with filming likely to start next year — pending everyone aligning their calendars. He also told Uproxx there is a really good script in hand.

'We just got the budget approved at Warner Bros. and we're trying to set up. It's just scheduling, so it's just setting a start date for us. Probably start in about nine or 10 months, shooting.'

Franchise snapshot (for context)

• Ocean's Eleven (2001) — Director: Steven Soderbergh; Box office: $450.7 million; Rotten Tomatoes: 83%; IMDb: 7.7
• Ocean's Twelve (2004) — Director: Steven Soderbergh; Box office: $362.9 million; Rotten Tomatoes: 55%; IMDb: 6.5
• Ocean's Thirteen (2007) — Director: Steven Soderbergh; Box office: $311.7 million; Rotten Tomatoes: 70%; IMDb: 6.9
• Ocean's 8 (2018) — Director: Gary Ross; Box office: $297.8 million; Rotten Tomatoes: 69%; IMDb: 6.3

Where to watch and what to expect next

All the Ocean's films are available to rent on Apple TV and Amazon. On the horizon: a stylish, Europe-set 1960s prequel led by Margot Robbie, likely opposite Bradley Cooper, with Lee Isaac Chung directing and Carrie Solomon scripting. Plus a proper Ocean's 14 with the classic crew gearing up once schedules line up. If you're into clever heists and cooler-than-you banter, it is about to be a busy stretch.