"Ocean's Eleven" Prequel Loses Director

Director Lee Isaac Chung has exited Warner Bros.‘ prequel for its Ocean’s Eleven property over “creative differences.”

Chung, best known for “Twisters” and the Oscar-nominated “Minari,” had been developing the movie with the studio and Margot Robbie, who is attached to star with Bradley Cooper and produce through her LuckyChap banner.

Chung is the second filmmaker to depart the project after Jay Roach, who was originally hired to direct.

“This is an amicable split due to creative differences,” a Warner Bros. spokesperson said in a statement.

A joint statement from Warner Bros. and LuckyChap added, “Lee Isaac is a singular filmmaking talent whose vision and partnership have been invaluable to Warner Bros. and LuckyChap throughout this journey. Our experience with him has only deepened our enthusiasm to collaborate on future projects together.”

The planned prequel was announced in 2022, with Jay Roach attached to direct at the time before he later exited.

Although plot details have not yet been shared for the project that has a script from Carrie Solomon, the storyline is expected to take place in 1960s Europe.

Warner Bros.’ franchise launched in 2001 with Steven Soderbergh’s "Ocean’s Eleven" that remade the studio’s 1960 heist movie "Ocean’s 11," starring Frank Sinatra and other Rat Pack members.

George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and Matt Damon were among the stars of Soderbergh’s critical and commercial darling trilogy that concluded with 2007’s "Ocean’s Thirteen".

It inspired two sequels as well as the female-led “Ocean’s Eight” reboot with Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, and Rihanna.

Warner Bros. is in the process of being sold to Paramount Skydance, which means the fate of future films is uncertain. However, Paramount’s CEO David Ellison has pledged to release 30 films a year once the two media giants become one, meaning they’ll need a lot of new material to fill out their theatrical slates.