Last fall, the movie industry went into overdrive following reports of a fourth iteration of the Ocean’s trilogy involving the likes of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon. Both Clooney and Pitt are keen to return for what’s been dubbed “Ocean’s 14”, with Edward Berger locked in negotiations with Warner Bros. to direct the long-awaited sequel.
Steven Soderbergh oversaw one of the best film trilogies of the 21st century thus far, but Berger’s work in All Quiet on the Western Front has put him firmly in the conversation with Warner Bros. David Leitch is another that’s said to be in the frame.
According to Deadline, the likes of Matt Damon and Casey Affleck are also being primed for a return. Clooney also further teased the prospect of an Ocean’s 14 movie in an interview with The New York Times back in February. Clooney joked that the crack heist team that took down a Las Vegas casino may be “too old to do the jobs they used to be able to do”. However, he teased the prospect of a great script for an Ocean’s 14 release way back in 2023, which may be loosely inspired by 1979 heist movie Going in Style. This too was remade in 2017 featuring Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman.
The World Would Love Another Ocean’s Movie
Ocean’s Eleven became a 21st century pop culture phenomenon, with its heist team breaking open the vault of a Las Vegas casino owned and managed by entrepreneur Terry Benedict, played by Andy Garcia. The heist theme has gone on to inspire other popular movies and other forms of entertainment, including video games and slots.
Inside Man (2006) involving Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, and Jodie Foster, is one of the best heist-style movies post-Ocean’s Eleven. There are also few better heist-themed video games than the Grand Theft Auto series. Grand Theft Auto 5 sees the story’s protagonists pull off a string of heists, including “The Big One”, stealing from the Union Depository. The heist theme has even transcended into the online slot scene, where Light & Wonder has put together the Action Bank slot game, featuring a golden vault scatter symbol. There’s also a bonus feature called the “Big Bank Bonus” that can help to yield the maximum payout in true heist fashion.
Matt Damon Remains Coy About Ocean’s 14
Despite the comments from Clooney in the last nine months, an interview with Matt Damon has created an element of uncertainty among long-time fans of the Ocean’s franchise. During a recent interview with GQ magazine, Damon was quizzed about his upcoming movie appearances. These included Ocean’s 14, but he wouldn’t elaborate much on the prospect.
He did reveal that he met with Clooney in New York over brunch. During this conversation, Damon confirmed they discussed the future of the franchise. He remained coy, adding that a fourth movie was “never a sure thing until it’s a sure thing”, but he did close by saying Clooney was “bullish” about its prospects.
One thing is for certain, if Ocean’s 14 is a goer, it’ll be a box office showstopper. The first Ocean’s Eleven grossed over $450 million worldwide, although Ocean’s Twelve ($362 million) and Ocean’s Thirteen ($311 million) saw global box office figures fall. The female-led Ocean’s 8 in 2018 raked in over $297 million to help breathe new life into the franchise.
