Bradley Cooper in Talks to Direct Ocean's Prequel

Warner Bros. is in discussions with Bradley Cooper to write and direct an untitled Ocean's prequel starring Margot Robbie, following the recent departure of director Lee Isaac Chung over creative differences. The project, which has faced multiple setbacks since its announcement in 2022, aims to begin production before the end of 2026, potentially as soon as this summer in Monaco.

Cooper, a 12-time Oscar nominee known for directing and starring in films like A Star Is Born and Maestro, was already negotiating to take on the male lead role opposite Robbie after Ryan Gosling exited the project. Sources indicate that no deals have been finalized for Cooper's expanded involvement, which would mark his fourth feature as a director and his first entry into a major franchise. The film would build on a screenplay draft by Carrie Solomon and is produced by Robbie's LuckyChap Entertainment, which has a first-look deal with the studio.

The prequel is set in 1960s Europe and centers on the parents of Danny Ocean, played by George Clooney in the 2001 reboot, and Debbie Ocean, portrayed by Sandra Bullock in the 2018 spin-off Ocean's 8. This timeline positions the story as an origin tale within...