When Bernie Mac passed away in 2008, it felt as if the world had shattered for George Clooney and the rest of the cast of Ocean’s Eleven. Mac, who played Frank Catton in the beloved film trilogy, was a discredited croupier and con man who worked alongside Clooney’s iconic character, Danny Ocean. The loss of Mac had a significant impact, not only personally but also on the ongoing development of a planned sequel, as he was one of Hollywood’s most notable comedians.
Mac’s passing left a gaping void in the comedy industry and deeply affected everyone associated with the Ocean’s films. The bond that was created over six years among the cast members became even more apparent after Mac’s death due to complications from pneumonia. In a heartfelt tribute statement to Daily Mail, George Clooney expressed his feelings, stating, “The world just got a little less funny. He will be missed dearly.” His sentiments resonated with co-stars Brad Pitt and Don Cheadle, who also mourned the loss of their dear friend.
Speaking of the impact Mac’s passing had on future projects, Pitt revealed during an interview with Entertainment Weekly that director Steven Soderbergh was contemplating a sequel before the tragic news. “We were talking about it, and then Bernie passed, and very quickly we were like, ‘No, we don’t want to do it.’” The cast felt that it would not be appropriate to continue the franchise without him. It took around eleven years before the franchise moved forward with the all-female spinoff, Ocean’s Eight.
While there had been discussions of a potential Ocean’s Fourteen movie, it is still in the early stages of development. Interestingly, Clooney recently teased the possibility of reviving the heist franchise in an interview with Uproxx, stating, “We have a really good script for another Ocean’s now, so we may end up doing another one.” According to Variety, director David Leitch is in talks to helm the project for Warner Bros, marking a continued life for the Ocean’s franchise.
As far as future projects go, Clooney hinted that he and his co-stars might have moved on from the deep sadness stemming from Mac’s passing and are open to reviving the beloved franchise. “We have a really good script, and everybody’s ready to do it,” Clooney said in an interview with E! News. Although a confirmed lineup hasn’t been officially announced yet, the excitement among actors and fans alike signals that something may soon come to fruition. For now, fans can still enjoy the Ocean’s trilogy, which is currently available to stream on Max.
