Ocean’s 8 ranks among the most anticipated releases of 2018. In fact, that’s been the case since 2016 when the movie was first announced. The excitement has grown even further since the trailer was released last December. In case you didn’t know, the film is actually a spin-off of a remake (Stephen Soderbergh’s Ocean’s 11 (2001) was a remake of the 1960 movie of the same name), but with a female cast.
Like the previous movies in the franchise, Ocean’s 8 will feature a team of criminals that come together to pull off a heist- a heist at the Met Gala, nonetheless. Here’s what we know about the movie, so far.

Sandra Bullock is George Clooney’s sister

As the estranged sister of Danny Ocean (George Clooney), Debbie (Sandra Bullock) has the most obvious link to any character from the previous instalments. Danny rounded up a team of highly skilled criminals to pull off his heists, of course. Debbie, while we only know a small amount of information about her so far, has just been released from prison. As she’s an Ocean, as soon as she’s released from her five-year stint, she organises a heist.

The Met Gala hosts the scene of the crime

The Met Gala is the perfect occasion to show off the cast’s high fashion stakes. Vogue’s Anna Winter invites the team to dress in themed outfits and just generally look glamorous. The team crashes the venue to steal a necklace from the neck of a celebrity. The scene of the crime in Ocean’s 11 was, of course, a casino; quite a different setting than the Met Gala. Anywhere with roulette tables and slot machines is going to have money, so it isn’t a bad place for a heist. But then, these days, people are increasingly taking their gaming to the internet, playing slots online at sites such as Lotto.net, as all the classic table games are there, with jackpots and bonuses to boot. So maybe it’s just as well the girls are upping the stakes by choosing the Met Gala for their first heist.

The cast is star-filled

“Sandra Bullock” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Gage Skidmore

Bullock’s team is all-female, of course. They’re also a bunch of some very talented actress. Ocean’s 8 stars Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Sarah Paulson, Mindy Kaling, and Helena Bonham Carter, along with comedian and rapper Awkwafina. The movie has received praise for its diversity. There are also numerous cameos, including Matt Damon, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Dakota Fanning, Alexander Wang, Carl Reiner, and Anna Wintour.

Hunger Games director Gary Ross is at the helm

Gary Ross has been one of Hollywood’s more reliable directors and screenwriters for a long time, most notably with the Hunger Games franchise. He also directed Seabiscuit (2003) and Pleasantville (1998), and was on the writing teams of classic comedies Dave (1993) and Big (1988). He co-wrote the script for Ocean’s 8 with relative newcomer Olivia Milch.
The prospect of a reboot with a gender switch doesn’t often fill us with anticipation. However, Ocean’s 8 has managed to create it in spades. Let’s hope that with all the star power they’ve managed to attract that they pull it off. We wait with baited breath for more news on what to expect from the film. Ocean’s 8 will be released to cinemas on the 8th of June.