19 Years Later Brad Pitt, George Clooney And Matt Damon Return For Ocean's Franchise
Last time we saw the Hollywood's most sought-after actors together was in 2007
When Ocean’s Eleven premiered in 2001, it became the heist movie that set the tone for everything that has followed the thrill of a heist on the silver screen. The suits, the dialogue, the suave in every frame to keep you hooked on screen, and the cast that made stealing from three Las Vegas casinos feel like a gentleman’s game. Two sequels later, it has created a franchise that has aged better than most blockbusters of its time.
Now, as excitement builds for a new sequel, the return of Ocean’s Eleven feels almost rebellious in a time fixated on loud action. When Steven Soderbergh released the film in 2001, it redefined the heist genre. Ocean’s Eleven (2001) made over $450 million worldwide. Ocean’s Twelve (2004) followed with $362.9 million, despite mixed reviews. Ocean’s Thirteen (2007) opened at number one in North America, in the opening week and earned $311.7 million globally. Together, these films have comfortably crossed the $1.4 billion mark, that legacy is what makes the upcoming sequel interesting.
The real question is why bring the cast back now, nearly two decades later?
Clooney suggested that the idea came to him after watching Going in Style, a ’70s comedy about aging criminals who have fallen on hard times through the loss of their pension. The charm and chemistry between Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon is still expected to be there, but seen through the lens of experience, restraint, and the quiet confidence of men who fully understand how the game works, even if they don’t run through it anymore. This sequel will mark Clooney’s first time back as Danny Ocean since Ocean’s Thirteen in 2007.
According to Clooney, the real appeal of characters is who have lost a step, or maybe a few, but haven’t lost their edge. Speaking to Variety, he summed it up best, "They may be too old to do what they once did, but they’re still smart enough to know how to get away with it."
Now Ocean’s 14 will show the guys in a sightly newer light shedding away from its notoriously famous stunts during heists including racing through casino floors, jumping fences, or modifying cars. Instead, these men now operate on instinct, psychology, and the kind of intelligence that only comes from having done it all before and lived to tell the story. It’s less about speed and more about strategy, and that shift might just make this the smartest Ocean’s film yet.
The original crew is expected to return, including Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Andy Garcia, and others. They won’t be younger versions of themselves of course; instead, they’ll portray characters who fully understand what they’ve gone through with Roberts and Clooney sharing the screen once again as romantic partners. More over, the budget has been approved at Warner Bros., and locations are currently being scouted, while the filming is expected to begin in late 2026.
Many fans are also wondering if with the sequel, some members of the Ocean’s 8 will get a cameo ? Would we see Hollywood singer and beauty brand, Fenty founder, Rihanna give us a glimpse, too?
While nothing about the star cast from Ocean’s 8 has announced filming with the original cast, Ocean’s 8 demonstrated that the franchise could stay sharp without Danny Ocean. Released in 2018, the spin-off moved the heist from Vegas casinos to the Met Gala. It replaced poker tables with couture and security vaults with celebrity chaos. With a starcast led by Rihanna, Sandra Bullock, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Cate Blanchett, Awkwafina, Sarah Pulson and Helena Bonham Carter. It earned nearly $300 million worldwide though failed to be as popular as the original films.
If Ocean’s Eleven once centred on charm, confidence, and control, this next upcoming sequel may delve into something deeper: knowing when to adjust. Watching a group of aging masterminds outsmart a world that assumes they’re past their prime? That sounds like a heist worth waiting for.