Margot Robbie’s highly anticipated Ocean’s Eleven prequel has hit another roadblock after losing yet another director. Filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung, best known for directing the Oscar nominated film Minari, has reportedly exited the Warner Bros. project due to creative differences. His departure marks the second major directing change attached to the film, raising fresh questions about the future direction of the long discussed prequel. The upcoming film is expected to serve as a 1960s set prequel to the Ocean’s franchise, which originally gained massive popularity through the early 2000s trilogy starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Julia Roberts.
The new story is reportedly centered on a glamorous heist set in Europe, with Margot Robbie attached to star and produce through her production company LuckyChap Entertainment.
Chung’s exit comes after Jay Roach, who had originally been Warner Bros.’ choice to direct the project, also stepped away earlier in the development process. Roach, known for films such as Austin Powers and Bombshell, had been one of the early creative forces shaping the film’s direction. His departure led the studio to bring Lee Isaac Chung on board in hopes of giving the project a fresh perspective.
However, according to industry reports, Chung ultimately decided to leave the film after creative disagreements with the studio and producers regarding the vision for the project. While specific details about the disagreements have not been publicly disclosed, such conflicts are not uncommon during large studio productions, especially when a franchise revival is involved.
Despite the latest setback, the film remains a priority for Warner Bros. because of the enduring popularity of the Ocean’s franchise. The original Ocean’s Eleven trilogy, directed by Steven Soderbergh, became one of the most recognizable heist franchises in Hollywood. The series later expanded with the 2018 spinoff Ocean’s 8, which featured a female led ensemble including Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Rihanna and Anne Hathaway.
The new prequel is expected to return to the stylish high stakes heist tone that made the earlier films successful while exploring a completely different era. Early reports suggest that the story may revolve around a lavish European heist set during the 1960s, offering a fresh setting for the franchise’s signature mix of glamour, crime and elaborate schemes.
Margot Robbie’s involvement in the project has been one of the biggest draws. Following the massive success of Barbie and several high profile productions through LuckyChap Entertainment, Robbie has become one of Hollywood’s most influential producers and stars. Her production company has already backed acclaimed projects such as Promising Young Woman, Saltburn, and Barbie, giving the Ocean’s prequel strong creative momentum even amid the director changes.
At this stage, Warner Bros. will need to find another director to take over the project, making this the second time the film has had to reset its leadership behind the camera. Whether the new filmmaker will maintain the original vision or take the story in a new direction remains unclear.
For now, the Ocean’s prequel remains in development, but the repeated director departures highlight the challenges of reviving a beloved franchise while trying to bring something new to the table. Fans of the stylish heist series will be watching closely to see who ultimately steps in to lead Margot Robbie’s next big crime caper.