Everyone in Hollywood, it seems, wants to be in the remake of "Ocean's Eleven," the definitive Rat Pack movie from 1960.
Which raises two questions: Have they bothered to watch the relatively hokey, pokey original? And, more to the point, who will land those coveted parts?
So far, what's known is that Steven Soderbergh has signed on to direct George Clooney, who will take the Frank Sinatra role of ringleader Danny Ocean. Other names that have been rumored to be attached include Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and, most recently, Bruce Willis.
Still to be determined are who will play Nos. 4-11 (Julia doesn't count as one of the 11). While several of the original 11 roles were filled by long-forgotten bit players, this project is obviously high-profile enough to warrant a set of all-star faces, even in the smallest roles. So here are a few suggestions, as well as some thoughts about how to bring this lounge-lizard classic into the 21st century.
The Story
Original plot: A group of World War II Army buddies gathers in Las Vegas 15 years after the war to simultaneously rob the five biggest casinos just after the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, 1960.
Remake plot: If it's 2000 and they're war buddies, that means they met either during the Gulf War or, more unlikely, the invasion of Grenada. And Vegas is a lot bigger than when the Rat Pack robbed the Sands, Sahara, Flamingo, Desert Inn and Riviera. Now it would have to be the Bellagio, the Luxor, Mandalay Bay, Excalibur and New York New York.
Alternatives: They could be Vietnam buddies and the story could be set in the early 1980s. Or the writers could choose to keep them WWII comrades and make it a hipper period film set in deepest, darkest 1960.
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Original actor: Frank Sinatra
Character: Danny Ocean, the group's ringleader
Suggested replacement: George Clooney (already confirmed)
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Original actor: Dean Martin
Character: Sam Harmon, lounge singer
Suggested replacement: Bruce Willis (even if he does have to sing)
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Original actor: Sammy Davis Jr.
Character: Josh Howard, garbage man and group's only nod to diversity
Suggested replacement: Wesley Snipes
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Original actor: Peter Lawford
Character: Jimmy Foster, spoiled rich kid, mama's boy and Ocean's best friend
Suggested replacement: Brad Pitt
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Original actor: Joey Bishop
Character: Mushy O'Connors, group smart-aleck
