Ocean’s Eleven: George Clooney’s prank to convince Julia Roberts to play in the film

Ocean’s Eleven : three casinos for the price of one

For his reunion with Steven Soderbergh after the awesome Out of reach, George Clooney embodies again a friendly thief. In Ocean’s Eleventhe actor takes over the role of Danny Ocean, already held by Frank Sinatra in 1960 in The Stranger of Las Vegas. Released 40 years after its model, this remake begins with the criminal’s release from prison, who swears to the authorities not to dive back into his old ways and to be on the sidelines.

But as soon as he sets foot outside, Danny Ocean seeks to build a team for a new coup. He very quickly finds his old accomplice Rusty Ryan (brad pitt) to tell him of his plan. The duo then manages to bring together a group of outstanding robbers, made up of Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould), Frank Catton (Bernie Mac), Linus Caldwell (Matt Damon), Basher Tarr (Don Cheadle), Saul Bloom (Carl Reiner), Yen (Shaobo Qin), Livingston Dell (Eddie Jemison) as well as the Virgil brothers (Casey Affleck) and Turk Malloy (Scott Caan).

Their objective: to rob in one evening Bellagio, Mirage and MGM Grand trunks. Three casinos owned by the ruthless Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), in a relationship with Tess (Julia Roberts), Danny’s ex-girlfriend. In 2004 and 2007, the band reformed and expanded for new casual breaks in Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteenstill orchestrated by Steven Soderbergh.

George Clooney’s joke to Julia Roberts

From the pre-production ofOcean’s Eleventhe director aims to bring together a cast as prestigious as that of Traffic. He immediately calls on George Clooney, who helps him put together the rest of the cast. The actor does not hesitate to reduce his stamp so as not to blow up the budget, which convinces his partners to do the same.

After their collaboration on Erin Brockovich, alone against all, Steven Soderbergh hopes to be able to work again with Julia Roberts. But the filmmaker fears that the star refuses to lower his salary. To make him want to join the adventure, George Clooney decides to play a joke on him. During an interview given to QG in 2020 and quoted by Firstthe actor says:

I didn’t know her, we had never met before. On the other hand, I knew that she earned 20 million dollars per film. We had just hired Brad and Matt on Ocean’s Eleven and we were dreaming of her doing it with us, so I put a $20 bill on the script I sent her, with a message that said, “I heard you make $20 a movie, now ?”

A joke that hits home and marks the beginning of the complicity and the long friendship between the two actors. George Clooney adds about the good atmosphere that reigned on the set:

She was wonderful, it was spectacular to work with her. And it’s really on this film that we became friends with Brad and Matt, before doing other films together. From the first day, the current passed. With them, it was easy and fun.

As for Julia Roberts, she declares, quoted by TV 7 Days :

I was the princess of the set: Brad, Andy, Matt and George took great care of me. I couldn’t take a step, a gesture, without them offering me their services.