Lee Isaac Chung is in talks to direct the “Ocean’s” prequel.
The Oscar-nominated filmmaker has already shown impressive versatility, moving from the tender family drama “Minari” to the the big-budget disaster film “Twisters.” Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap is producing the Warner Bros. film. No cast has been set yet, but at one point there were reports that Robbie would reunite with her “Barbie” co-star Ryan Gosling on the heist flick.
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The current script is by Carrie Solomon, who wrote the Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman rom-com “A Family Affair.” It is based on characters created by George Clayton Johnson and Jack Golden Russell. No word on the plot, but something tells us it will involve larceny, some double-crossing and a crack team of charming reprobates.
The “Ocean’s” trilogy starred George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Julia Roberts, and a spinoff, “Ocean’s 8,” featured Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway. The films have grossed over $1.4 billion at the global box office. At one point, Clooney said he planned to revisit the Danny Ocean character in a different film. “It’s like we’re all too old to do the jobs we used to be able to do,” he told the New York Times in February.
Chung was nominated for Academy Awards for directing “Minari” and for writing its screenplay. Chung’s other projects include “Munyurangabo,” which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim and episodes of “The Mandalorian” and “Skeleton Crew.” He is set to direct the upcoming feature adaptation of the sci-fi novel “Traveler” by Joseph Eckert.
Chung is repped by CAA and Jackoway Austen.
Deadline first reported that Chung was in talks for the “Ocean’s” prequel.
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