Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper are leading a new Ocean’s Eleven prequel about Danny Ocean’s parents, with a 1962 Monaco Grand Prix heist.
Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper Lead the Prequel
August 20, 2026 – A new chapter in the Ocean’s franchise is officially taking shape, with Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper leading a prequel that will explore the story of Danny Ocean’s parents.
The project has been in development for several years, but Warner Bros. provided a significant update in 2026. Cooper is now set to star alongside Robbie while also taking on the roles of writer and director, giving the new film a particularly personal connection to the project.
Robbie will also produce through her LuckyChap production company. The film is currently untitled and is scheduled to arrive in theaters on June 25, 2027.
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The Story Takes Place Before Danny Ocean
Rather than retelling the story of the familiar casino mastermind, the prequel will move back in time to explore Danny Ocean’s parents.
Robbie revealed during Warner Bros.’ CinemaCon presentation that the movie will show the characters “in their prime” as they take on an ambitious heist at the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix. That puts the story firmly in the world of glamorous European locations, period fashion and high-stakes crime.
The connection to Danny is expected to provide the franchise with a new perspective while preserving one of its central themes: talented criminals combining charm, strategy and nerve to pull off an elaborate operation.
Bradley Cooper Has Taken Over Behind the Camera
Cooper’s involvement goes well beyond acting. He is writing, directing, producing and starring in the new film, taking over the directing position after Lee Isaac Chung departed the project.
Chung, who directed Twisters and Minari, had previously been attached to helm the prequel. His departure was reported as being related to creative differences, after which Cooper emerged as the filmmaker Warner Bros. was looking to have lead the project.
The shift gives the production a clear creative direction as it moves toward release. Cooper has already directed A Star Is Born and Maestro, making the Ocean’s project his latest opportunity to combine acting and filmmaking on a large studio production.
The Film Has Been Years in the Making
The Ocean’s Eleven prequel has had a long development period. Plans for a new installment were first reported in 2022, and the project went through several changes before reaching its current form.
Early versions of the movie were connected to Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, who had been attached after their success together in Barbie. The project later changed course, with Cooper replacing Gosling in the lead role and ultimately taking on directing duties as well.
Carrie Solomon previously worked on the screenplay, while the current film is being written by Cooper based on characters created by George Clayton Johnson and Jack Golden Russell. Much of the story remains closely guarded, leaving the Monaco Grand Prix heist as one of the few major plot details confirmed publicly.
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A Growing Ensemble Joins the Heist
Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper are not the only major names attached to the new Ocean’s prequel. The cast has expanded considerably, with Monica Barbaro joining the project on June 30, followed shortly by Josh Gad.
Additional casting reports have named Vicky Krieps, George MacKay, Lauren Ridloff, Jack Holden and Omar Sy as part of the ensemble. Their specific characters have not been revealed, leaving plenty of mystery around how each performer will fit into the Monaco-set heist.
The expanding cast suggests that the film is building toward the kind of large-scale ensemble that has traditionally defined the Ocean’s franchise. However, the central focus remains on Robbie and Cooper, who are leading the new story.
Margot Robbie Also Produces the Film
Robbie’s involvement extends beyond her starring role. She is also producing the prequel alongside her husband, Tom Ackerley, through their production company LuckyChap Entertainment.
Cooper is similarly taking on multiple responsibilities, starring in the movie while directing it. The film’s behind-the-scenes team also includes executive producers Michelle Graham, Gary Ross, Olivia Milch and Josey McNamara, with Village Roadshow involved in the production.
The combination of Robbie’s producing experience and Bradley Cooper’s work as both actor and filmmaker gives the project a creative team with significant experience in ambitious studio productions.
Filming Is Already Underway
The Ocean’s Eleven prequel has now moved beyond development and into production. The first set images were released on August 18, showing Robbie, Cooper and Barbaro in costume.
The images offered an early look at the film’s period setting. Robbie and Barbaro were photographed wearing tailored suit sets and shift dresses, while their costumes were paired with accessories including Chanel and Hermès handbags. Cooper appeared in tailored polos and trousers.
The costumes provide an early indication of the film’s visual direction as it recreates the style and atmosphere surrounding the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix. With filming underway, more details about the production are likely to emerge as work continues.
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A 1962 Monaco Grand Prix Heist
The film’s central storyline is one of its most intriguing elements. Instead of following Danny Ocean, the character associated with the previous films, the prequel will focus on his parents before he became the legendary thief audiences know.
Robbie teased the concept during Warner Bros.’ presentation at CinemaCon, describing Danny’s parents as two masterminds who taught him everything he knows. Their major operation will take place at the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix, giving the movie a glamorous historical setting for its central heist.
The story therefore has a direct connection to the established Ocean’s mythology while introducing new characters and a completely different era.
The Franchise Has a Long History
The upcoming prequel will become the latest entry in a franchise that dates back more than six decades. The original Ocean’s Eleven premiered in 1960 with the Rat Pack, before Steven Soderbergh launched the modern series with the 2001 remake.
That version starred George Clooney as Danny Ocean and brought together an ensemble including Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Julia Roberts. It was followed by Ocean’s Twelve in 2004 and Ocean’s Thirteen in 2007.
The franchise later expanded with Ocean’s 8, the 2018 spin-off led by Sandra Bullock. The new prequel represents another opportunity to revisit that world while taking the story in a new direction.
The Movie Has Taken Years to Reach Production
The project has been in development since 2022, making its journey to production a lengthy one. Early reports suggested that the studio hoped to begin filming in spring 2023, but those plans were postponed.
Ryan Gosling was originally attached to star alongside Robbie before Cooper replaced him. The change in casting ultimately developed into a much larger creative shift, with Cooper also taking over as director.
Carrie Solomon is credited with writing the screenplay. Solomon previously wrote A Family Affair, the Netflix film starring Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron. The current project has therefore evolved considerably since the first reports emerged, but its central prequel concept has remained intact.
When Will Ocean’s 11 Be Released?
The new Ocean’s film is scheduled to hit theaters on June 25, 2027. That gives the production several months to complete filming, post-production and the extensive work required for a major studio heist movie.
The 2027 release also places the film within a longer-running franchise while allowing the new cast and creative team to establish their own version of the Ocean’s world.
For now, the June release date is the major confirmed milestone. With filming already underway, audiences can expect more casting, production details and eventually promotional material as the movie moves closer to theaters.
What to Expect From the New Ocean’s Film
Although many details remain under wraps, the broad outline is becoming clearer. Audiences will get a period heist centered on Danny Ocean’s parents, a Monaco Grand Prix setting and an ensemble cast led by Robbie and Cooper.
The film is also taking a different approach behind the camera, with Cooper directing while Robbie plays a central role both on screen and as a producer. That combination could give the project a distinct identity while keeping it connected to the tone and elaborate plotting associated with the franchise.
With production officially underway and a release date locked for 2027, the long-awaited prequel is finally beginning to look like a reality.
Final Thoughts
The new Ocean’s 11 prequel is shaping up as a stylish period heist with a fresh cast and a direct connection to the franchise’s most famous character. Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper are leading the project, while the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix provides an intriguing setting for the story.
With filming now underway and a June 25, 2027 theatrical release planned, the next major clues will likely come from additional set images, trailers and further details about the ensemble.
FAQs
What is the new Ocean’s 11 prequel about?
The film follows Danny Ocean’s parents before his birth and centers on an elaborate heist at the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix.
Who stars in the Ocean’s 11 prequel?
Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper lead the film, with Monica Barbaro, Josh Gad, Vicky Krieps, George MacKay, Lauren Ridloff, Jack Holden and Omar Sy also joining the cast.
Is Bradley Cooper directing the Ocean’s prequel?
Yes. Cooper is starring in the film and directing it, in addition to taking on other creative responsibilities.
When does the new Ocean’s 11 movie come out?
The film is currently scheduled to be released in theaters on June 25, 2027.
Has the Ocean’s 11 prequel started filming?
Yes. Production is underway, and the first set images featuring Robbie, Cooper and Barbaro were released on August 18, 2026.
Published by HOLR Magazine