Wagner Moura joins Oceans Eleven prequel as the heist's new mastermind
Wagner Moura, fresh off an Academy Award nod for The Secret Agent, boards Oceans alongside Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper.
If you thought the Ocean’s franchise was quietly put out to pasture, think again. Warner Bros. isn’t just bringing back George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts for an Ocean’s 14 (so that’s happening, by the way), they’re also double-dipping with a prequel — and they’re moving at a fair old clip on it too.
The Prequel: New Faces, Old School Setting
The new film — working title 'Oceans' — is set years before Danny and Debbie Ocean were even running Las Vegas or blowing the Bank of Spain’s budget. This time we’re heading to the swinging 1960s, specifically the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix, where the parents of our future master criminals try their own luck with a high-stakes heist.
Margot Robbie (yes, Barbie herself) steps in as mum, while Bradley Cooper not only co-stars as dad but is also going to direct the thing. Robbie’s producing through her LuckyChap biz, just to keep things in the family. It’s not quite the pair-up fans expected — at one point Ryan Gosling was lined up to reunite with Robbie, fresh off the Barbie fever, and 'Twisters' director Lee Isaac Chung was attached. But Gosling bailed in October 2025 and Chung walked away in March 2026, so Cooper grabbed his spanner and took over on both fronts. Warner Bros. is aiming for a June 2027 cinema release, with filming set to kick off in France this July.
New Villain on the Block: Wagner Moura
Here’s where things get particularly interesting. Wagner Moura, who you probably remember as Pablo Escobar in 'Narcos', and more recently was Oscar-nominated for 'The Secret Agent', has just signed on. Moura’s in line to play the film’s main baddie, though who or what exactly he’ll be doing remains under wraps for now.
Moura’s quite a catch, considering he’s openly turned down blockbuster roles — including a mystery DC project — if he thought they’d box him into the usual negative Latino tropes. The fact he’s agreed to this Ocean’s gig suggests the script gives him something a bit less stereotypical to chew on. Earlier this year, you might've heard him voicing Death in 'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish' and lending his pipes to Brander Lawson in 'Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord'. Coming up, he’s got a drama called 'The Last Day' (directed by Rachel Rose) and a turn in the 2026 sci-fi thriller 'The Last House' from Louis Leterrier.
The Heist, the Cast, and All That Jazz
So, the hook for Oceans: Robbie and Cooper are plotting a daring theft at the Monaco F1, right at the heart of the ‘60s glitz. If you’re waiting for intricate franchise connections: the film introduces the Ocean siblings’ parents, so expect a fair few cheeky nods for fans who’ve been with the series since Clooney and Pitt were squabbling over Vegas.
- Margot Robbie: Producing and starring as Mrs. Ocean
- Bradley Cooper: Directing, starring as Mr. Ocean
- Wagner Moura: Cast as the main villain
- Filming in France, July 2027 release planned
- Project switched hands after Ryan Gosling and Lee Isaac Chung dropped out
- Robbie's LuckyChap producing
It’s not exactly a secret this franchise prides itself on ensemble casts. Alongside Clooney, Pitt, Damon, and Roberts, past line-ups have included Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Don Cheadle, and now, adding to the Oscar-winner/nominee pile, both Robbie and Cooper. Moura fits right in, especially considering his track record for picking interesting, non-generic roles.