Last week, we reported that the cast ofSandra Bullock’s female reboot ofOcean’s Elevenhas addedElizabeth Banks,Cate Blanchett,Helena Bonham CarterandMindy Kaling. That report also teased that the project’s working title wasOcean’s Ocho, since the story will center on eight female thieves, but it seems that title wasn’t quite accurate. While doing press for his new filmThe Free State of Jones, directorGary Rossconfirmed that the title is actuallyOcean’s Eight, and thatOcean’s Ochowas just a nickname for the project.
This project has been secretly in development over the past few years, withOcean’s ElevendirectorSteven Soderbergh, starGeorge Clooneyand producerJerry Weintraubbringing aboardOlivia Milch(Town & Country) to write the script.Gary Rossrevealed toSlashFilmthat this project is not simply afemale reboot, but a continuation ofSteven Soderbergh’s trilogy. Here’s whatGary Rosshad to say below, discussing how both he andSteven Soderberghhave collaborated on each other’s projects over the years, and howOcean’s Eightwill be similar in tone toOcean’s Eleven.
“I think it’s a pretty similar tone. You know,Steven Soderberghand 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 previousOcean’s Elevenfilms; he shot second unit onThe 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 toneStevenwas 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.”
The director wouldn’t confirm any of the cast members that have been previously reported, but he did joke that he’d “break the Internet” if they announced the cast right now. He also didn’t address rumors about the story, including reports thatSandra Bullock’s character is actually the ex-con sister ofGeorge Clooney’s Danny Ocean fromSteven Soderbergh’s trilogy. 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.
While no other character details have been confirmed,Cate Blanchettis reportedly playing the right-hand woman ofBullock’s character, similar toBrad Pitt’s Rusty in theOcean’s Eleventrilogy.Jennifer Lawrencewas previously being eyed to reunite withThe Hunger GamesdirectorGary Rosson the project, but our report from last week claimed that she isn’t involved at this time. We’ll be sure to keep you posted with more onOcean’s Eightas soon as more details come in.
