George Clooney has named an approximate timeframe for when production will begin on the next installment of the legendary franchise. According to the actor, cameras will start rolling in about nine months, which means filming will kick off in 2027. The project has already cleared key pre-production milestones: the script is finished, a director has been confirmed, and the cast has been finalized.
The statement was made not as part of a studio presentation, but in a relaxed setting. On April 27, 2026, Clooney appeared at the 51st Chaplin Award Gala at Lincoln Center in New York and shared the news in conversation with journalists, including the outlet Extra.
The film’s preparation is in the home stretch
This is a full-fledged sequel in the main Ocean’s series, not a spin-off. The project is in an advanced stage of pre-production. All three core elements without which no major Hollywood film gets underway are already in place:
- a finished script,
- a confirmed director,
- a finalized cast.
Clooney himself summed it up succinctly: “We have a script. We have a director. We have a cast… I think we’ll start in about nine months.”
Robbie and Gosling will play Danny Ocean’s parents
In addition to the main sequel, a prequel is in development in which Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling will play the parents of Clooney’s character, Danny Ocean. The actor reacted warmly to the idea: “I think they’ll have fun. I think they’ll enjoy doing it.”
What’s behind the filmmakers’ positive outlook?
The franchise’s creators are clearly banking on box-office success, and it’s not by chance. The theme of gambling and casino heists that the entire series is built around is seeing a resurgence.
This is largely due to the rapid growth of the online casino industry, which in recent years has attracted millions of new users worldwide. iGaming brands are actively lowering the barrier to entry for newcomers by offering a variety of promotions and welcome bonuses. According to data from industry sites we reviewed, the most effective at attracting newcomers are no deposit free spins, which reduce the financial barrier to entry. Thanks to them and other promotions, the popularity of gambling has risen to unprecedented levels. You could say these forms of entertainment have gone mainstream.
The growing online gambling audience is also driving viewer interest in film projects that play on casino aesthetics, so the studio has chosen a good moment to return to the franchise.
A career achievement award and a heartfelt evening among friends
Clooney attended the ceremony with his wife Amal. He received a career achievement award for his contribution to cinema and, by his own admission, felt nervous despite decades in the industry. The presence of longtime friends and colleagues in the audience at Alice Tully Hall made the evening especially meaningful to him personally.
A meeting with the ER star became one of the most touching moments
Among the guests was Julianna Margulies, Clooney’s co-star from the iconic medical drama ER. Their appearance together became a kind of mini-reunion that drew press attention. This meeting had nothing to do with Ocean’s and belonged to a completely different chapter in both actors’ careers.
How one phone call changed the show’s fate
Clooney recalled an episode that could have reshaped the history of ER. Margulies’s character was originally going to be killed off in the pilot, and the actress was already considering other offers. “I called her and said, ‘I don’t think they’re going to kill you, so stick around. Don’t take another job,’” Clooney said. Margulies stayed and became one of the show’s central figures for many seasons.
A joint project is possible, but not in the Ocean’s universe
Clooney made it clear that he’d be happy to work with Margulies again, but was skeptical about the chances of her making a cameo specifically in the Ocean’s franchise. In his words, it would be better to find something else that suits them both.
A few warm words also went to Noah Wyle, another ER veteran. Clooney said he’s proud of his colleague’s success on “The Pitt,” and joked that he’d be up for appearing on camera, though he acknowledged that Wyle is doing great without him.
Two Mother’s Days and living between two countries
The Clooney family is now based in France, although the actor regularly visits the U.S. He joked about an unexpected side effect of transatlantic life: “You basically end up with two Mother’s Days. It takes some effort.” At the same time, Clooney emphasized that the family is enjoying their time abroad.
Overall, “Ocean’s 14” is in active preparation, filming is expected to begin in 2027, and a prequel starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling remains in development in parallel.