Margot Robbie's 'Ocean's Eleven' Movie Just Lost An Oscar-Nominated Director

Oscar-nominated director Lee Isaac Chung has officially stepped back from Margot Robbieand Ryan Gosling's upcoming prequel to Ocean's Eleven due to creative differences with the studio.

The director formally became attached to the project back in July 2025. The film has been in development at Warner Bros. since 2022, but has been unable to hold down a permanent cast and crew.

The 'Oceans Eleven' Prequel Is Searching For A New Director... Again

According to Deadline, Chung's departure from the project was described as an "amicable split" that came around due to clashing visions of what the movie should look like.

"Lee Isaac is a singular filmmaking talent," a spokesperson says, "whose vision and partnership have been invaluable to Warner Bros. and LuckyChap throughout this journey. Our experience with him has only deepened our enthusiasm to collaborate on future projects together.”

Deadline also reports that an active search for Chung's replacement is currently underway, as the studio wants to get the project completed sooner rather than later. With the ongoing acquisiton from Paramount Pictures, the Ocean's prequel is reportedly "an important project" on Warner Bros' upcoming slate.

Plot details for the movie are being kept tightly under wraps, but the studio has teased that it will take place many years before the original trilogy. Reports are widely speculating that its main characters will be the parents of Danny Ocean—the character played by George Clooney in the main series.

Clooeny has already given his stamp of approval to the project: "Margot Robbie’s my mother? I’ve always thought that. And Ryan Gosling is my father, and when you think about it, it makes sense. Truly.”