Tide Rising For ‘Ocean’s 14’? ‘Conclave’ Helmer Edward Berger Courted To Join George Clooney, Brad Pitt – The Dish

Mike Fleming Jr
·1 min read

EXCLUSIVE: This is a bit early, but The Dish hears momentum is building on the Smokehouse-produced next installment of the Warner Bros caper film franchise that started with Ocean’s Eleven. Sources said that George Clooney and Brad Pitt are coming back, and they are courting Edward Berger to take over directing duties.

Berger is emerging as an elite filmmaker. He followed All Quiet on the Western Front — which it won four Oscars including Best International Feature — with Conclave, the Focus Features drama about the intrigue behind the election of a new pope that has drawn raves after its Telluride debut, establishing the film as a Best Picture Oscar candidate with Berger and Ralph Fiennes also at the center of the awards race. The film gets its next shot with a Toronto Film Festival premiere. Fiennes stars alongside Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini and a strong supporting cast.

More from Deadline

Warner Bros and Smokehouse have been working diligently on Ocean’s 14, which would be the first without director Steven Soderbergh. While promoting Boys on the Boat, Clooney said they had a strong script that was in the spirit of Going in Style. While insiders have said it’s early and Berger doesn’t even have an offer (he’s juggling several of them), I am persuaded this one has some teeth. And I would expect for The Instigators co-stars Matt Damon, Casey Affleck and the rest of the ensemble would be back in the fold.

RELATED: ‘Wolfs’ Venice Film Festival Red Carpet Photos: George Clooney, Brad Pitt & More

Clooney and Pitt just had their Venice premiere for the Jon Watts-directed Apple film Wolfs.

Stay tuned.

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next