Monica Barbaro is in negotiations to join the untitled Ocean's Eleven prequel at Warner Bros., according to The Hollywood Reporter. Bradley Cooper will direct and star in the film, which he is also writing, alongside Margot Robbie. Wagner Moura is attached to play the antagonist.
The film centers on the parents of Danny Ocean, the role George Clooney originated in Steven Soderbergh's 2001 heist film, set against the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix. The prequel is produced under Margot Robbie's LuckyChap banner. The broader Ocean's franchise has grossed over $1.4 billion globally.
Barbaro earned an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of folk icon Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown and first reached wide audiences through Top Gun: Maverick. Her specific role in the prequel has not been disclosed.
The project has had a complicated path to production. Director Lee Isaac Chung was previously attached before departing due to creative differences. Cooper then stepped in to both write and direct. Carrie Solomon penned an earlier draft of the screenplay.