Ocean’s Eleven: Don Cheadle says Soderbergh is thinking of a new sequel

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

In addition to being a year defined by Covid recovery, heat waves, and a forever-shifting theatrical release schedule, 2021 also marks the 20th anniversary of Ocean's Eleven. Starring baby-faced versions of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, and more, Ocean's Eleven is a fan-favorite among heist film enthusiasts. In fact, Soderbergh's first Ocean's film was so popular that the crew reunited for two sequels, Ocean's Twelve (2004) and Ocean's Thirteen (2007). All three films were a major success upon their release, and so naturally, it's only a matter of time before the powers that be think about going back to the well.

Recently while talking about starring in Soderbergh's new crime drama No Sudden Move, Cheadle revealed to Entertainment Weekly that another Ocean's sequel could be in the cards.

"We were talking about it, and then Bernie passed, and very quickly we were like, 'No, we don't want to do it,'" says Cheadle, who played British explosives expert Basher. "But I just did a movie with Stephen and he said, 'I think there may be a way to do it again. I'm thinking about it.' And it didn't go much further than that. But I don't know; I don't know who all would be in it. I imagine the main group of us would be in. It would be interesting to see."

Of course, by dropping the name Bernie, Cheadle is referring to Bernie Mac, who played Frank Catton in all three Ocean's movies. Sadly, Mac passed away at the age of 50 in 2008 due to complications from sarcoidosis, a disease that causes inflammation in bodily tissue.

If there were to be another Ocean's movie, one would hope that Soderbergh could convince the remaining members of the "main group" to return. The group includes Cheadle, Clooney, Pitt, Damon, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Eddie Jemison, Shaobo Qin, and Elliott Gould. Surely, assembling a cast such as this would require some elaborate scheduling gymnastics, but we've seen it happen before.

In the meantime, be sure to check out 2018's Ocean's 8, starring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, and more. In the spin-off, Debbie Ocean gathers an all-female crew to attempt an impossible heist at New York City's yearly Met Gala. It's a hell of a good time, and definitely worth seeing, if you like clever heist films.