Yesterday Showbiz 411 reported that Cate Blanchett (Cinderella, Blue Jasmine, Carol), Mindy Kaling (“The Mindy Project,” “The Office”) and Helena Bonham Carter (Fight Club, Alice Through the Looking Glass) will join Sandra Bullock (Gravity, The Blind Side) in Warner Bros.‘ all-new, all-female Ocean’s Eleven reboot. Now they’ve added one more name to the list in the form of actress (Magic Mike XXL, Love & Mercy) and director (Pitch Perfect 2) Elizabeth Banks!
This will mark a reunion between Banks and Gary Ross, who cast her as Effie Trinket in the first Hunger Games movie as well as in Seabiscuit. Ross will direct and produce the reboot currently going under the unofficial working title “Ocean’s Ocho,” indicating there are eight thief protagonists instead of the traditional eleven. If that holds true, that means there are still at least three more major principal parts to be filled by famous actresses.
This new film will be a continuation of the George Clooney-led films, with Bullock playing Danny Ocean’s ex-con sister. With help from her right-hand woman (Blanchett, playing the equivalent of Brad Pitt’s Rusty), she’ll form a team of thieves to steal a necklace from the Met Ball in order to frame a villainous gallery owner. Shooting is expected to begin this fall. A cameo by Clooney has been nixed for the time being, although he could potentially appear in sequels.
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Ocean’s Eleven remake trilogy filmmaker Steven Soderbergh has been onboard to develop the reboot with producers Clooney and the late Jerry Weintraub since 2014, with screenwriter Olivia Milch (Queen & Country, Little Women) penning the script. “Ocean’s” is a well-honed brand that dates back to the original Rat Pack-led Ocean’s 11 from 1960, starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.
Ross is currently putting the finishing touches on his Civil War epic Free State of Jones, starring Matthew McConaughey, which is due out on June 24.
The in-demand Banks – who recently dropped out of helming Pitch Perfect 3 – will next be seen as Rita Repulsa in next year’s Power Rangers movie, and is attached to direct a Charlie’s Angels reboot at Sony.
(Photo Credit: WENN.com)
