No 'Ocean’s 14' for Edward Berger — Did He Just Make the Smarter Move with Pitt?

Watching directors balance between safe sequels and riskier originals always fascinates me. Edward Berger briefly considered Ocean’s 14, which would have reunited the starry crew for another Vegas caper.

But after finishing Ballad of a Small Player and catching a proper night’s sleep, he realised the truth: Ocean’s belongs to Steven Soderbergh. Berger wasn’t interested in imitation.

Why Berger Said No

Berger confessed he loved the franchise but had nothing new to add. Soderbergh defined its breezy, hyper-stylised tone — without him, any sequel would feel like a cover version. Many in Hollywood would have taken the job anyway, but Berger chose honesty instead. Isn’t that refreshing?

The Call to Pitt

Rather than join Ocean’s 14, Berger phoned Brad Pitt. He apologised for walking away and passed him a different script — The Riders. Pitt read it in two days and called back: "the best script I ever read." Now, the two are teaming with A24 for a 2026 shoot. What first looked like a lost franchise gig suddenly feels like a smarter gamble.

Soderbergh’s Shadow Still Looms

Soderbergh himself won’t return, saying the series has "been there and done that." George Clooney reportedly wrote the Ocean’s 14 script and is still seeking a director. Why not direct it himself? Either way, Berger’s decision makes its own point: originality over repetition. And I believe that's braver choice.