Bradley Cooper in Talks to Direct and Star in ‘Ocean’s 11’ Prequel Alongside Margot Robbie

Warner Bros. is moving forward with plans to expand the long-running Ocean’s Eleven franchise, with Bradley Cooper now emerging as the leading candidate to both direct and star in a prequel to the popular heist series. The project, which is also expected to feature Margot Robbie in a leading role, marks another high-profile collaboration between the studio and Robbie’s production company, LuckyChap Entertainment.

While Cooper had already been in discussions to appear in the film, new developments suggest his involvement could extend behind the camera as well, potentially making the film his fourth directorial effort.

The production has experienced several creative shifts in recent years. Director Lee Isaac Chung, best known for Twisters and the Oscar-nominated drama Minari, recently departed the project. Before him, filmmaker Jay Roach, known for Bombshell and the Austin Powers franchise, had also been attached at various stages of development.

Sources familiar with the production indicate that bringing Cooper on board could provide the stability needed to keep the film on schedule, with Warner Bros. reportedly aiming to begin production before the end of the year.

If confirmed, the project would follow Cooper’s growing reputation as a filmmaker. His directorial debut, A Star Is Born (2018), was both a critical and commercial success, earning multiple Academy Award nominations. He followed that with Maestro (2023), a biographical drama about composer Leonard Bernstein that further established his credentials as a serious director. His most recent directing project, Is This Thing On?, continued his focus on character-driven storytelling.

Unlike the modern Las Vegas setting that audiences associate with the Steven Soderbergh trilogy, the new prequel is expected to take place in Europe during the 1960s, decades before the events depicted in the 2001 reboot that helped redefine the franchise for contemporary audiences.

Screenwriter Carrie Solomon reportedly developed an early version of the script, though further revisions are expected as the project moves forward creatively. Plot details remain largely under wraps, but the period setting suggests Warner Bros. is aiming to explore the origins or earlier exploits connected to the sophisticated criminal world that defines the Ocean’s brand.

The Ocean’s franchise itself traces back to the original 1960 film starring members of the Rat Pack, including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop. That version established the stylish, ensemble-driven heist formula later reimagined by Steven Soderbergh in the 2001 remake starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts.

Soderbergh’s version proved highly successful, spawning Ocean’s Twelve (2004) and Ocean’s Thirteen (2007). The franchise later expanded with the female-led spinoff Ocean’s Eight (2018), starring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, and Rihanna, demonstrating the concept’s flexibility across different casts and storylines.

The prequel is not the only Ocean’s project currently in development. George Clooney has previously confirmed that another installment focusing on the original crew later in life is also being considered. That concept would reportedly explore how aging affects the group’s ability to execute elaborate criminal schemes while relying more heavily on experience and strategy.

Clooney previously hinted at the thematic direction of that idea, suggesting the story would examine how seasoned criminals adapt as their physical abilities change with time.

“There was something appealing about the idea that we might not be as quick as we once were, but we’re still clever enough to find another way,” Clooney said in an earlier interview discussing the potential direction of the story.

The prequel also reflects the growing influence of LuckyChap Entertainment, the production company founded by Margot Robbie alongside partners Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara. The company strengthened its relationship with Warner Bros. following the massive commercial success of Barbie (2023), which grossed more than $1.4 billion worldwide and earned multiple Academy Award nominations.

Since then, LuckyChap has continued to build a diverse development slate. Among its upcoming projects are Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights and a reimagining of the cult science-fiction film Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, which is expected to involve director Tim Burton.

Industry observers note that Robbie’s dual role as both a major on-screen talent and a powerful producer has allowed LuckyChap to secure ambitious projects that blend commercial appeal with distinctive creative voices.

If finalized, Cooper and Robbie’s collaboration could position the prequel as one of the studio’s most anticipated productions currently in development, combining star power, franchise recognition, and the continued evolution of one of Hollywood’s most stylish heist series.