When George Clooney and director Steven Soderbergh pitched them Ocean’s Eleven, the 2 A-listers didn’t simply say no; they delivered a full-on Hollywood “f**ok off.” Quick ahead 20 years, and Clooney claims they’re kicking themselves over that selection.
Talking on the 2023 TCM Traditional Movie Pageant, Clooney didn’t maintain again: “Some very well-known individuals advised us to f**ok proper off. Mark Wahlberg, Johnny Depp. There have been others.” That’s proper, Ocean’s Eleven was apparently too slick for some egos again then.
And oh, what a mistake. The film went on to gross over $450M globally, spawning two sequels and the spin-off Ocean’s Eight. With a forged headlined by Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Julia Roberts, it oozed model, wit, and swagger. In the meantime, Depp and Wahlberg opted out of changing into a part of what’s now a cinematic legacy.
What makes their rejection even wilder? Soderbergh was the man on the time. Contemporary off Oscar wins for Erin Brockovich and Visitors, his title was gold. “Individuals actually wished to work with Steven,” Clooney defined. Nicely, virtually everybody.
For Soderbergh, Ocean’s Eleven was his shot at mixing indie cred with blockbuster aptitude. “It felt like the following iteration in my want to work within the mainstream movie enterprise,” he mentioned. Translation? He wished to make an clever, crowd-pleasing film—and nailed it.
Nonetheless, Depp and Wahlberg had their causes, even when we don’t know them. Depp may’ve been busy prepping his pirate swag for Pirates of the Caribbean. Wahlberg was most likely someplace lifting weights and plotting his subsequent motion flick. Certain, that they had careers to juggle, however come on—this was Ocean’s Eleven!
Clooney, for his half, doesn’t appear too damaged up about their snub. In spite of everything, their absence made method for an ensemble forged that clicked like clockwork. However he couldn’t resist a jab, suggesting that the celebs now “remorse it.” And truthfully, how might they not?
Mockingly, Clooney is aware of a factor or two about remorse himself. “I remorse doing f**king Batman,” he admitted, referencing his much-maligned flip in Batman & Robin. However in the case of Ocean’s Eleven, it’s all upside.
The franchise created ripples which might be nonetheless felt at the moment – from Ocean’s Twelve to Ocean’s 13 and even Ocean’s Eight. Johnny and Wahlberg, although? They watched that ship sail.
Hollywood’s acquired its share of “what if” tales, however this one’s a basic. Depp and Wahlberg advised the heist staff to get misplaced, and the heist staff made historical past with out them. Guess not each gamble pays off—however this one certain did for Clooney and firm.
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