American actor George Clooney, now over sixty years of age, has welcomed the involvement of actress Margot Robbie (33) and actor Ryan Gosling (43) playing the role of his parents in the new installment of the “Ocean’s 11” series, titled “Ocean’s 11: The Beginning” (Prequel ‘Ocean’s 11’), with filming set to commence in March. Clooney, with a touch of humor, told Variety Magazine: “Margot Robbie is my mother, I’ve always thought so, and Ryan Gosling is my father. When I think about it, it feels reasonable.”
In the “Ocean’s 11” films, Clooney portrayed Danny Ocean, a professional con artist who after being released from prison, prepares to rob a series of major casino establishments owned by a ruthless and unforgiving businessman. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are seen as a powerhouse pairing, following their collaboration in the highly anticipated “Barbie” movie.
The latest sequel will be directed by Guy Ritchie, with the screenplay penned by Carey Solomon. The “Ocean” trilogy, starring Clooney, made its debut in the early 21st century with a plot set in Las Vegas. This new chapter takes place in Europe during the 1960s and is a reimagining inspired by the 1960 film led by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
“Ocean’s 8,” the most recent film released in 2018, starred Sandra Bullock as Debbie Ocean, Danny’s sister, who assembles an all-female crew to pull off a nearly impossible heist in New York. In “Ocean’s 12,” the team continues their escapades following one of the biggest heists ever. The crew, consisting of Danny Ocean (Clooney), Rusty Ryan (Pitt), Linus Caldwell (Damon), and others, believes they can enjoy their loot until Terry Benedict (Garcia), feeling cheated out of his money, decides to reclaim his losses. This forces the group to devise a plan to return the money they’ve spent or face jail, eventually leading them to another masterful scheme.
“Ocean’s 13” follows the team as they come together to support one of their own, Reuben Tishkoff, who gets conned in a deal involving a new hotel development with casino owner Willy Bank. In a twist of fate, the team decides not to stand idly by but rather to align with an old adversary for a grand caper on the night of Bank’s new casino section premiere. The motive this time isn’t money; it’s revenge.
Richie, speaking to Variety, described the new entry as “an old-fashioned epic love story and an adventure in disguise of a heist movie.” He commented on the dynamic between Robbie and Gosling, stating that despite any initial reservations possibly due to their roles in “Barbie,” he believes some duos are just meant to be seen together time and again.
The new film promises romance—a somewhat presented aspect in the original heist-driven narrative that mainly featured the criminal partnership between Clooney and his old compatriot, Rusty (Brad Pitt). “Ocean’s 11, 12, and 13,” including the spin-off “Ocean’s 8,” starred a stellar ensemble including A-listers like Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and Matt Damon and collectively grossed over $560 million worldwide.
Gosling and Robbie, coming off the billion-dollar sensation of this year’s “Barbie,” which has become a phenomenon and major awards contender in its own right, are no strangers to heist films. Robbie honed her skills alongside Will Smith in the 2015 film “Focus.” Hollywood producers are keen on betting for the Gosling-Robbie duo post the astounding success of “Barbie,” especially with the actors heading into an award season that could see Oscar nominations for both Best Actor and Actress.
