Lee Isaac Chung Steps Down as Director of Warner Bros.’ ‘Ocean’s’ Prequel
EXCLUSIVE: Two-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker Minari Lee Isaac Chung has parted ways with Warner Bros and LuckyChap on the upcoming Ocean’s prequel. Chung had been collaborating on the project alongside star and producer Margot Robbie. A Warner Bros spokesperson stated, “This is an amicable split due to creative differences.”
Warner Bros and LuckyChap representatives expressed appreciation for Chung’s contributions, commenting, “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.”
As Warner Bros prepares for an acquisition by Paramount, the Ocean’s prequel remains a pivotal project. A search for a new director is currently underway. Details regarding the film’s plot are not yet disclosed, but it will feature a screenplay by Carrie Solomon, based on characters created by George Clayton Johnson and Jack Golden Russell.
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The Ocean’s franchise began with the 1960 Las Vegas heist film, showcasing the Rat Pack—Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop. The series was rebooted by Steven Soderbergh in 2001, leading to a successful trilogy featuring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, and Julia Roberts. An all-female version, which premiered in 2018, starred Sandra Bullock, Anne Hathaway, and Cate Blanchett. The four films released in the 21st century collectively grossed over $1.4 billion worldwide.
Chung received nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for A24’s Minari, which won both the Grand Jury and Audience Awards at Sundance in 2020, in addition to several accolades including Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice wins, as well as multiple nominations for the Academy Awards, Spirit Awards, BAFTAs, and SAG Awards. Minari garnered six Oscar nominations and won an Academy Award for Youn Yuh-jung for Best Supporting Actress. Following this, Chung reimagined Universal and Warner Bros’ Twisters, which had an $81.2 million domestic opening and grossed $267.7 million domestically and $372.2 million worldwide. His previous work includes Munyurangabo, which received critical acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007, along with directing episodes of The Mandalorian and Skeleton Crew.
As Paramount undergoes regulatory processes for the merger, both studios can independently greenlight projects without needing approval from one another. The merger is anticipated to conclude by the end of Q3, and it is expected that Paramount’s future will include a robust lineup filled with Warner Bros franchises for the end of 2026 and into 2027.
