Ocean's Thirteen is moving ahead full-steam, and a development date has now been set — welcome news to fans of the series and the heist genre in general. The picture will begin shooting on July 21st under the direction of Steven Soderbergh once again, reports Variety.

Thirteen will be just like good old times, with all eleven of Danny Ocean's gang back for the new caper (or capers). Apparently, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Soderbergh all had to make some concessions in order to get their schedules lined up; however difficult a $100-million-heist is to plan, it can't be worst than coordinating the itineraries of three of Hollywood's hottest actors. "The odds were long on this happening, and it would not have been possible were it not for those actors and director moving other projects out of the way," said producer Jerry Weintraub. "The five of us are all great friends, and we decided we were going to kill ourselves to get this done."

Also returning is Andy Garcia's gambling mogul; it's interesting to speculate what his part will be this time, since he's already gotten his lucre back.

Not returning, unfortunately, are the last film's leading ladies — Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Hopefully, they'll be left out in a way that makes sense, without doing anything drastic to their characters and undoing the progress of the last two films. Instead, Ellen Barkin (The Big Easy, Switch) will be Thirteen's starring actress; apparently, she'll be having a tangle with Damon's character.

Ocean's Thirteen will return to its roots this time and be set in a casino again (giving a hint as to why Terry Benedict is back). However, shooting on location at the Bellagio during Eleven was too difficult, so Soderbergh will oversee the construction of a fully operational casino on five Warner Brothers sound-stages. Ocean's Thirteen is expected in theaters in the summer of 2007.

Source: IGN

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Posted by Lawren at March 28, 2006 07:31 AM | Trackbacks (0)

You Said

Barkin and MY Matt?? She's older than I am! Maybe she's going to play his mom?

Says: Nanc' at March 28, 2006 08:48 AM

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Ocean's 12 was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I'm surprised they are making another one.

Says: at March 28, 2006 10:19 AM

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Second!

Says: aeh at March 28, 2006 02:48 PM

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Third

Says: Hutch at March 28, 2006 03:43 PM

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I did not enjoy Ocean's 12 either, but I will still see Ocean's 13...me and many others

Says: at March 28, 2006 07:18 PM

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