“Ocean’s” Prequel Reboot Loses Another Director Over ‘Creative Differences’

Lee Isaac Chung, two-time Oscar-nominated “Minari” filmmaker, has officially departed the “Ocean’s” prequel. Chung was working with the film’s star and producer, Margot Robbie, prior to leaving the project. He is the second director to leave the project, as Jay Roach departed from the project last year. The departure is the latest setback for a project that has struggled to maintain creative leadership since it was first announced in 2022.

What Happened With The “Ocean’s” Prequel & Its Director?

With a replacement for Chung not yet announced, the prequel’s path to production remains uncertain — even as enthusiasm from Robbie’s production company, LuckyChap, appears undiminished. Chung’s leaving “Ocean’s” is huge because the project already had a director depart once.

Entertainment Weekly confirmed Chung’s departure on Wednesday, and a spokesperson for Warner Bros. said to EW, “This is an amicable split due to creative differences.” Despite the split, Luckychap, Robbie’s Production Company, and Warner Bros. released a joint statement.

In the statement obtained by Deadline, it read, “Lee Isaac is a singular filmmaking talent 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.”

Originally, Robbie’s vision for the heist franchise had Roach lined up as director and “The Good Fight’s” Carrie Solomon on the screenplay for the project. After the announcement, Ryan Gosling was in talks to reunite with his “Barbie” co-star in the cast. However, Roach left in July 2025, and Chung had entered his own round of talks to take over directing duties. In addition, Bradley Cooper became the prime candidate to star opposite Robbie.

Other Projects Chung Has Been Involved In

Chung has built a reputation for himself in the entertainment industry. His work on A24’s “Minari” earned him nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. The project won the Grand Jury and Audience Awards at Sundance in 2020, while grabbing Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice wins, along with multiple Academy, BAFTA, Spirit, and SAG nominations.

“Minari” was also nominated for six Oscars. The project won one for Youn Yuh-Jung as Best Supporting Actress. Chung took on directing duties to reboot “Twisters” in 2024, which posted $81.2 million domestic opening and finished strong at $267.7 million domestically, and $372.2 million worldwide. “Munynurangabo” is another project of Chung’s, which premiered in 2007 at the Cannes Film Festival. It earned critical acclaim, and episodes “Skeleton Crew” and “The Mandalorian.”

The urge to get the “Ocean’s” prequel up and running remains important as Warner Bros. is about to be acquired by Paramount. The search for a new director is active and underway, and the plot is still being kept under wraps. It remains unclear whether the casting conversations will continue under new creative leadership.

With the studio looking for a new director for the “Ocean’s” prequel, it is more than likely that the project is a high priority. Robbie has already starred in successful projects from the studio like “Barbie” and “Wuthering Heights.” In addition, she starred as Harley Quinn in the DCEU. Chung is set to direct the Skydance film, “The Traveler,” which is going to be a sci-fi family drama.

What Happens Next?

The back-to-back director exits raise questions about when — or whether — the prequel will move forward. Warner Bros. has not yet announced a replacement for Chung, and no production timeline has been confirmed. The frequent setbacks come as the broader “Ocean’s” universe continues to develop on a separate track.

The direct sequel, not connected to Robbie’s prequel, already had a finished script and has received budget approval at Warner Bros. That film would bring Soderbergh back as director alongside original cast members Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, and Julia Roberts. Production for that film is set to take place later this year, in October.

The simultaneous development of both projects puts Warner Bros. in the position of managing competing “Ocean’s” productions, with one moving forward smoothly and the other still without a director. The studio’s joint statement with LuckyChap signaled that both parties remain committed to eventually bringing the prequel to theaters, but a new director search appears inevitable.

The “Ocean’s” prequel continues to face significant hurdles as Warner Bros. searches for a third director following the departures of both Roach and Chung. As the studio navigates another creative reset, the project’s supporters — including Robbie and LuckyChap — say they remain committed to the film. Whether a new director can finally stabilize the long-developing project remains to be seen.