The casting would mark another major studio role for the Brazilian actor, whose profile has surged following the awards success of “The Secret Agent.”
Wagner Moura Set for Key Role in Ocean’s Franchise Expansion
Moura is expected to portray the film’s villain, placing him opposite Robbie and Cooper in a story that will take the “Ocean’s” franchise decades before the events associated with Danny Ocean and his famous crew. Cooper is attached to direct in addition to starring, while Robbie is producing through LuckyChap Entertainment alongside Tom Ackerley.
The picture has undergone a lengthy development process since first emerging several years ago as a period set adventure connected to the established Ocean’s universe rather than a reboot. Earlier versions of the project were linked to Ryan Gosling and director Jay Roach before evolving through multiple creative iterations. More recently, filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung became attached before departing the production amid reported creative differences.
At CinemaCon earlier this year, Warner Bros. unveiled new story details, revealing that the movie centers on Danny Ocean’s parents as they attempt a high stakes heist during the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix. Robbie and Cooper are understood to be portraying those characters, expanding the mythology behind the family that would later produce both Danny Ocean and Debbie Ocean, the characters famously played by George Clooney and Sandra Bullock.
For Moura, the role represents another significant step in a career that has steadily expanded beyond Brazil. After gaining international recognition for playing Pablo Escobar in “Narcos,” the actor earned widespread acclaim for his performance in “The Secret Agent,” becoming the first Brazilian actor nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Production on the untitled feature is expected to begin later this summer in France, with filming planned in Paris and locations in the country’s south. Warner Bros. has scheduled the picture for release on June 25, 2027.
