Steven Soderbergh's OCEAN'S ELEVEN franchise will live on under the direction of Gary Ross (THE HUNGER GAMES) and there have been a number of actor's either reported or rumoured to be involved including Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth Banks, Helena Bonham Carter, and Mindy Kaling. Although at times it has been unclear whether Ross' project will be a remake/reboot/spin-off of Soderbergh's trilogy, it will at least continue with the tone Steven Soderbergh set up. Ross spoke with /Film recently to comment on the project, which he confirms will be titled OCEAN'S EIGHT, and elaborate on what we can expect.
I think it’s a pretty similar tone. You know, Steven Soderbergh and I are incredibly close friends, and we would not have done this if we weren’t. I don’t think he would’ve wanted anyone to do it if we weren’t. This is very much an extension and a continuation. He’s a producer on the movie. We’re different filmmakers, obviously, so there will be those differences, but one of the things I’m drawn to is the amazing tone Steven was able to create, and we discuss that a lot. We discuss the cinema a lot, the shooting style, the rhythm, the editing style, and the music. We discuss it all. I’m in no way trying to reinvent the tone, and I’m thrilled and honored to be extending it. It’s really fun to work with.
At one point it was rumoured that Danny Ocean (George Clooney) himself would stop by for a cameo, but it seems that idea has been put on the shelf for now. However, should OCEAN'S EIGHT prove to be a success and spawn sequels, there's always the chance that they'll be able to bring the two teams together at a later date. The project is looking to get underway by late fall/early winter. FREE STATE OF JONES, Gary Ross' next film, will hit theaters on July 24, 2016 and stars Matthew McConaughey as Newt Knight, a Southern farmer who led an armed rebellion against the Confederacy.