Director Lee Isaac Chung has left Warner Bros.' Ocean's Eleven prequel due to creative differences. The film, starring Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper, is produced by Robbie's LuckyChap Entertainment. This marks the second director departure for the project.
Lee Isaac Chung, known for directing Twisters and the Oscar-nominated Minari, has exited the Ocean's Eleven prequel project amid creative differences. Warner Bros. and LuckyChap Entertainment confirmed the departure in statements released on March 4, 2026.
A Warner Bros. spokesperson described the split as amicable, stating, “This is an amicable split due to creative differences.” In a joint statement, the studios praised Chung, calling him a “singular filmmaking talent whose vision and partnership have been invaluable to Warner Bros. and LuckyChap throughout this journey.” They added, “Our experience with him has only deepened our enthusiasm to collaborate on future projects together.”
Chung is the second director to leave the film. Jay Roach was originally hired to direct but departed earlier. Margot Robbie stars opposite Bradley Cooper in the prequel, which LuckyChap is producing for Warner Bros. Screenwriter Carrie Solomon is working on the script, set in 1960s Europe based on earlier reports. The storyline precedes the events of Steven Soderbergh’s 2001 Ocean’s Eleven, where George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts play con artists robbing a Las Vegas casino.
The original Ocean’s Eleven was a critical and commercial success, leading to two sequels and the 2018 Ocean’s Eight reboot featuring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, and Rihanna. It draws from the 1960 Ocean’s 11 with Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack.
Warner Bros. faces uncertainty as it is being sold to Paramount and Skydance. Paramount CEO David Ellison has pledged to release 30 films annually after the merger, potentially impacting the prequel's future.
