We can all agree that remaking Ocean's 11 again doesn't really sounds like a good idea. That having been said, it's a good time for director Gary Ross to define what exactly we should expect from the rapidly developing project that started its life sounding like a remake. Good news: it's starting to sound like it's not a complete remake, but a sort of continuation of the original series, with a look and sound clearly defined by the previous entries.
During a conversation with /Film, the Seabiscuit and The Hunger Games director described the approach for Ocean's Eight with the following caveats:
We're different filmmakers, obviously, so there will be those differences, but one of the things I'm drawn to is the amazing tone Steven was able to create, and we discuss that a lot. I'm in no way trying to reinvent the tone, and I'm thrilled and honored to be extending it. It's really fun to work with.
So according to the remarks above, Ocean's Eight is being heavily modeled after the original trilogy of reboots Steven Soderbergh had made between 2001 and 2007. Whether that extension vibe applies only to the tone of the project, or if it encompasses the actual thematic content, is yet to be seen. But at the very least, the same breezy cool mix of comedy and heist work should still apply to the new, female-centric approach to the star-studded crime caper.
It should also be noted that none of the supposed cast members for Ocean's Eight have been confirmed by Gary Ross at this moment. So while we're expecting Sandra Bullock to lead Cate Blanchett, Mindy Kaling, Elizabeth Banks, and Helena Bonham Carter all into acts of thievery and theatrics, that line-up isn't written in stone just yet. Hopefully, the final cast list won't be too far off from the actors that we've been promised, as the mix of snark and slick seems like a good approach for the cast that's been rumored to be in play.
With the right approach, and the right collaborators in the mix, Gary Ross's Ocean's Eight could be better than anyone had anticipated. And with Steven Soderbergh serving as an inspiration / good friend to Ross's work on the film, even if this does turn out to be a remake of Ocean's Eleven, at the very least it sounds like it will be one that's not too far off from what we'd expect. We'll find out soon enough which direction this film is moving in, as well as the cast that will be driving those efforts home, as the project continues to move forward.
