Edward Berger exits Oceans 14 as Pitt shifts to The Riders

Edward Berger has formally stepped away from talks to direct Oceans 14, leaving the next installment of the Star-Studded Ocean’s franchise in a state of uncertainty. The All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave director confirmed that while the idea of directing a high-profile project with Brad Pitt and George Clooney had briefly tempted him, he ultimately determined that the film was not his to make and that it belonged to Steven Soderbergh’s creator’s arena. He explained that he recognized the franchise as Soderbergh’s vision and that there was little he could add to what the director had already established.

Berger described the pull of a studio-backed, star-driven heist movie as tempting, especially for someone emerging from a relatively small starting point. He recalled conversations with Pitt and the allure of working with a cast of well-known names, noting that the prospect would have provided a chance to tell a story with broad appeal and to support a crew financially. However, after reflection, he concluded that his voice wouldn’t align with the project’s established DNA. “Deep down inside I knew it’s not my movie, it’s Steven Soderbergh’s movie. He invented that,...