George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, and more in one film? It has already happened. The 2001 film Ocean’s Eleven, directed by Steven Soderbergh, set the bar for heist films. Made on a budget of $85 million, it grossed $450 million worldwide.

One would think Hollywood actors would have jumped to do the film, but that wasn’t the case. In fact, plenty of big-name actors refused to come on board and later on regretted it. But who were these stars? George Clooney claims Mark Wahlberg and Johnny Depp are two of them.

George Clooney Exposed 2 Actors For Refusing Ocean’s Eleven

George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh

Recently, George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh attended the 2023 TCM Classic Film Festival and discussed their more than two-decade-old famed heist film, Ocean’s Eleven.

During the conversation, Clooney talked about how A-list Hollywood stars like Johnny Depp and Mark Wahlberg had rejected the film. Both were offered the role of Linus Caldwell. The role eventually went to Matt Damon.

Shot from Ocean’s Eleven

Here’s how the conversation went:

George Clooney: “Steven had just done ‘Erin Brockovich’ and ‘Traffic,’ and he was nominated for directing both films. So, people really wanted to work with Steven.”

Steven Soderbergh: “That said, some people did say no to us.”

George Clooney: “They did. Some very famous people told us to f**k right off. Mark Wahlberg, Johnny Depp. There were others. They regret it now. I regret doing f**king Batman.”

It was reported that other actors who had turned down various roles in the film were Owen Wilson, Bruce Willis, Luke Wilson, and Danny Glover.

As for why Wahlberg and Depp regret turning down the role, it’s probably because not only was it a box office hit, but also received rave reviews from critics. The film went on to have two more sequels, Ocean’s Twelve (2004) and Ocean’s Thirteen (2007).

Will There Be More Films Set In The Ocean’s Eleven Universe? 

Cast of Ocean’s Eight

At the TCM Classic Film Festival, Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney talked about the possibility of revisiting or even rebooting the heist series again. After all, 15 years have passed since Ocean’s Thirteen came out in 2007. Soderbergh answered that he has been a part of multiple such conversations.

George Clooney

The famed director also clarified that Ocean’s Eight (2018) was the result of such conversations. When Soderbergh was further prodded for more information, he refused to give a clear answer.

Instead, he slowly said, “I’m… thinking… about… tomorrow.” While many were disappointed at the director for refusing to give a straightforward answer, others interpreted it as something else.

Some fans thought that his words meant that there are probably ongoing talks about the future of the franchise that he can’t really tell.

After all, if nothing was going on, he probably would have come out and said it rather than stringing the audience along. But whether or not a reboot or continuation actually happens, remains to be seen.