Lee Isaac Chung in Talks to Direct Ocean's Eleven Prequel

Lee Isaac Chung, acclaimed director of 'Minari' and 'Twisters,' is in talks to helm the highly anticipated prequel to the 'Ocean's Eleven' franchise for Warner Bros. The screenplay, written by Carrie Solomon, is set in 1960s Europe and will explore the backstory of characters originally created by George Clayton Johnson and Jack Golden Russell. Margot Robbie is producing the film through her LuckyChap banner and was previously attached to star alongside Ryan Gosling, though no official casting has been confirmed yet. This project marks a shift from the initial involvement of director Jay Roach, signaling a fresh creative direction. The 'Ocean's' franchise, which began in 1960 and was successfully rebooted by Steven Soderbergh in 2001, has generated over $1.4 billion globally and remains a significant cultural touchstone. Chung’s involvement underscores the franchise's continued evolution, blending his indie sensibilities with the heist genre’s blockbuster appeal.