Wagner Moura in Talks for ‘Ocean’s 11’ Prequel With Margot Robbie, Bradley Cooper

The Ocean’s franchise is reloading, and it looks like it has found its next great antagonist. Wagner Moura is reportedly in negotiations to join Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper in Warner Bros.’ untitled Ocean’s 11 prequel, with the Brazilian star expected to step into the role of the film’s main villain.

The news arrives as the long-gestating heist project finally moves toward production, bringing together one of the most talked-about ensembles in Hollywood for a 1960s-set origin story unlike anything the franchise has done before.

Wagner Moura’s Role in the Ocean’s 11 Prequel

According to reports, Moura is being lined up to play the antagonist of the period heist drama, continuing a franchise tradition of casting heavyweight actors as the mark or villain standing in the way of the central crew. Previous Ocean’s films have followed this pattern closely, with prior installments featuring major stars in similar antagonist roles opposite the franchise’s central thieves.

Moura has been on a remarkable run over the past two years, headlined by his Oscar-nominated turn in “The Secret Agent.” That performance also earned him a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a drama and the Best Actor prize at Cannes, making him the first Brazilian actor to receive either honor. He is also widely known for playing Pablo Escobar in Netflix’s “Narcos” and for his role in Alex Garland’s “Civil War.”

What the Ocean’s 11 Prequel Is About

Unlike the modern Ocean’s trilogy led by George Clooney’s Danny Ocean, this prequel rewinds the clock to explore where it all began. At CinemaCon earlier this year, Margot Robbie confirmed the story is set against the backdrop of the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix and centers on the two con artists who shaped Danny Ocean long before he ever set foot in Las Vegas: his parents.

Robbie teased the premise directly, framing the film as the story of the masterminds who taught Danny Ocean everything he knows. Robbie and Cooper are widely believed to be playing those two parental figures, making this less a direct prequel to the 2001 heist film and more a stylish period piece exploring the franchise’s earliest roots.

Cast and Crew Assembling for the Heist

The project has gone through several changes behind the scenes before landing in its current form. Jay Roach and Lee Isaac Chung were previously attached to direct, and Ryan Gosling was once linked to the lead role that Cooper now occupies himself. Cooper eventually stepped in to direct, star, produce, and write the screenplay, with earlier drafts credited to Carrie Solomon.

Robbie continues to produce through her LuckyChap Entertainment banner alongside Tom Ackerley, with a list of additional executive producers also attached to the film. Cinematographer Linus Sandgren, known for his work on “La La Land,” “Babylon,” and “Saltburn,” is also on board to shoot the project, adding another layer of visual pedigree to the production.

Filming is expected to begin this summer, with the shoot reportedly starting in Paris before relocating to the south of France to capture the Monaco Grand Prix setting and the broader European backdrop of the story.

A New Direction for a Beloved Franchise

The original “Ocean’s Eleven” became a defining heist franchise of the 2000s under Steven Soderbergh, with George Clooney’s Danny Ocean leading an ever-expanding crew through increasingly elaborate capers across three sequels and a spin-off. This prequel marks a clear departure, swapping the modern Las Vegas setting for a 1960s European stage and trading Clooney’s ensemble for an entirely new cast playing earlier, formative figures in the Ocean family’s history.

With Wagner Moura’s villain role reportedly close to being finalized, the prequel is rapidly shaping up into one of the most anticipated heist films on the calendar, combining a fresh setting, a director-star pairing in Cooper and Robbie, and a genuine awards-caliber actor stepping in as the obstacle standing between the new generation of con artists and their score.

Warner Bros. has already set a release date of June 25, 2027, giving fans a clear marker for when this stylish trip back to the franchise’s roots will finally hit theaters.

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