‘Ocean’s Eleven’ Spinoff: Helena Bonham Carter And Mindy Kaling Join Sandra Bullock And Cate Blanchett
Warner Bros. has recruited two more for itsOcean’s Elevenspinoff.Mindy KalingandHelena Bonham Carterhave reportedly joinedSandra BullockandCate Blanchettin the heist film, which is being directed byGary Ross(The Hunger Games). We’ve got a long way to go before that cast is full, but Kaling, Bonham Carter, Bullock, and Blanchett are a rock-solid start.
Showbiz 411reported on the latest casting. Bullock is expected to be the Danny Ocean counterpart (that’s the lead role played by George Clooney in the 2001 film), while Blanchett will be the Rusty figure (that’s Danny’s right-hand man, played by Brad Pitt in the 2001 movie). There’s no word yet on what parts Kaling and Bonham Carter will be filling. The site also confirms that Jennifer Lawrence,who was rumoredfor the project last month, willnotbe joining after all. No surprise there, given how crazy in-demand she is.
Word is the newOcean’s Elevenis actually titledOcean’s Ocho(Spanish for “eight”), and that it’ll be a spinoff rather than a reboot. Bullock’s character is believed to be Danny Ocean’s sister, and the plot reportedly revolves around her plan to steal a necklace from the Met Ball to frame a crooked gallery owner. There were rumors that Clooney could cameo, strengthening the ties between the old trilogy and the new film, but as of now it’s unclear whether that will actually happen.
Ocean’s Ocho(or whatever it ends up being called) has been in development for some time. Clooney,Steven Soderbergh(who directed the 2001Ocean’s Eleven), andJerry Weintraub(who produced it) have been planning the project for a couple of years, since before Weintraub passed away.Olivia Milch(Queen & Country,Little Women) is writing the script. The 2001Ocean’s Elevenwas itself a remake, of the 1960 Rat Pack classic starring Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
Bonham Carter can currently be seen inAlice Through the Looking Glass. She starred with Blanchett in last year’sCinderella. Of the two new additions, Kaling seems like the more surprising choice as she’s best known for TV shows likeThe OfficeandThe Mindy Project. Her film work has mostly consisted of supporting parts in comedies, likeThe Night BeforeandThe Five-Year Engagement. But she had a big hit last year in Pixar’sInside Out, and she should make for a fun addition to theOcean’s Elevencast.
Shooting onOcean’s Elevenis expected to begin in New York in early 2017. No release date has been set.
