UPDATED A couple of months ago it was revealed that “Austin Powers” director Jay Roach was going to make an “Ocean’s 11” prequel. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling — Barbie and Ken — would reunite for the heist movie.
Now I can tell you exclusively that the title of the planned film is “Oceans.” That’s because Gosling and Robbie will play the parents of Danny Ocean, the character played by George Clooney in Ocean’s 11, 12, and 13.
The Oceans (I don’t know their first names) will teach son Danny and daughter Debbie (Sandra Bullock) how to steal from the rich in this new caper. The Oceans will have a team to help them, of course.
The new movie will be set in the 60s, which is ironic since the original “Ocean’s 11” with Frank Sinatra, the Rat Pack, et al was released in 1960.
My sources say “Oceans” will set up the more modern “Ocean’s 11” trilogy, not to mention “Ocean’s 8” which starred Bullock and a team of women. (There’s still no “Ocean’s 9,” but who knows!) No word on who’s going to write the new film, but David Levien and Brian Koppelman would be excellent candidates after doing such a good job with “Ocean’s 13.”
The whole idea for “Oceans” comes from the great chemistry between Robbie and Gosling in “Barbie.” And while there is no “Barbie” sequel yet, I am assured that one is inevitable once director Greta Gerwig makes her “Chronicles of Narnia” film. We can count on it.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros. threw a swanky party last night for “Barbie’ in Hollywood at the rooftop restaurant of the Pendry Hotel. Guests of honor included Gerwig, co-writer (and husband) Noah Baumbach, stars Gosling and Robbie, plus singer Billie Eilish, her brother and co-writer Finneas, and soundtrack producer Mark Ronson.
Gerwig — I think — will be finally get a DGA nomination and or an Oscar nomination for directing after her extraordinary work on “Ladybird” and “Little Women.” The “Barbie” movie is a director’s film with a specific vision completed realized. “Barbie” is almost certainly headed to a Best Picture nomination, as well.
I asked Greta what her kids — who are 4 and 1 — think of mom as a moviemaker.
She said: “Harold, my 4 year old, said when Barbie was over, Is that it? Like, ‘you’re done with this filmmaking now, right?’ Little does he know!”
