Female-led 'Ocean's Eleven' spinoff may amp up star power with Rihanna, others

The Ocean’s trilogy is getting a female-driven spinoff, and the Ocean’s Eight cast is going to be as impressive as their male counterparts. Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett are already onboard, and deals with Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, Mindy Kaling, and Awkwafina (rapper and actress Nora Lum) are close, reports Deadline.

The group brings together both veteran actresses and relative newcomers. While Bullock, Blanchett, Hathaway, and Carter are all Oscar winners or nominees, Rihanna and Awkwafina have taken on acting roles only in recent years. Meanwhile, Kaling is best known for her comedic work on The Office and The Mindy Project.

The prospective cast is a potent bunch, to say the least. Between them, there are multiple Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and Emmys (not to mention nominations), as well as Grammys. The women could certainly carry the film without any help, but they may get an extra boost nonetheless. Stars from the original heist trilogy, such as George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and Matt Damon, may appear in the spinoff.

Ocean’s Eight follows a series that began as a remake of Ocean’s 11, a 1960 Rat Pack film. The original starred Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop, and others. Steven Soderbergh directed the 2001 remake and will produce Ocean’s Eight.

Gary Ross, who is known as a frequent unofficial collaborator of Soderbergh, will helm the spinoff. His resume includes films like The Hunger Games, Pleasantville, and Seabiscuit. Susan Ekins is executive producing, while Jesse Ehrman and Greg Silverman will oversee the film for Warner Bros.

The film is set to begin filming in October in New York. No timeline for the Oceans Eight theatrical release has yet been announced.