George Clooney reveals that Johnny Depp and Mark Wahlberg rejected ‘Oceans Eleven’: “Now they regret it, I regret ‘Batman'”

Not everyone was willing to jump on Danny Ocean’s bandwagon in ‘Oceans 11’, to rob one of the most important casinos in Las Vegas. At least some Hollywood stars thought the adventure was not exciting enough to sign a contract. This has been revealed by George Clooney, the film’s protagonist, and Steven Soderbergh, its director.

During the TCM Classic Film Festivalfilmmaker and actor met to talk about the 2001 film, which brought together numerous well-known faces of American cinema under its title: Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Don Cheadle and Clooney himself, among others. However, as they stated, there were plans to include some other big names in the industry, such as Johnny Depp or Mark Wahlberg.

“Steven had done ‘Erin Brockovich’ and ‘Traffic’, and had been nominated for a Best Director Oscar for both,Clooney commented.So, people wanted to work with him.”

“That being said, there were people who told us no,” added the director. “Indeed,” continued Clooney. “Some very famous people sent us for a ride. Mark Wahlberg, Johnny Depp… Among others. Now they regret it. I regret having made the damn ‘Batman’,” he joked.

However, not all were rejections. As we said before, many big names joined Soderbergh’s adventure. And, taking advantage of the occasion, Clooney remembered the way in which Julia Roberts, the superstar of the moment, had agreed to participate in the film.

“We sent Julia a script and a note that said, ‘I hear you’re taking 20 [millones de dólares] for movie now,” the actor said. “We sent him a $20 bill… It made him laugh and yes, he got on board.”

After all, the film became a real international success. After its premiere, it grossed a total of $450 million at the worldwide box office. There were subsequently two sequels starring the same group of criminals, and years later, in 2018, it developed a spin-off starring an all-female cast, ‘Oceans 8‘, which saw Sandra Bullock in the shoes of Debbie, Danny’s sister.

In the spin-off, the group of women plans to raid the Met Gala, the great international event organized by Vogue, and thus steal a valuable Cartier necklace. They accompanied Bullock: Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham-Carter, Sarah Paulson, Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, and Awkwafina.

The Ocean family has demonstrated its great skills for theft, Will we see one of his outlaw adventures again? Although in the last of the saga we saw Danny’s grave, it was hinted that it might not really be occupied by the beloved character… Who knows, maybe with his great skills for escapism he manages to come back from the dead.