Andy Garcia has officially confirmed his return as Terry Benedict, the cunning casino owner and longtime antagonist/ally of Danny Ocean’s crew, in the highly anticipated Ocean’s 14 sequel. The veteran actor revealed the news during a press event for Taylor Sheridan’s Landman Season 2 in an exclusive conversation with TheWrap on November 10, 2025. Ocean’s 14 will mark a significant milestone for the franchise: the first mainline film to be directed by someone other than Steven Soderbergh, with acclaimed action director David Leitch (known for Bullet Train and The Fall Guy) taking the helm. Production was originally scheduled to begin in January 2026 but has been slightly delayed due to scheduling conflicts, particularly involving Brad Pitt’s commitment to The Adventures of Cliff Booth. Warner Bros. officially approved the budget for the project in October 2025, confirming that George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, and Julia Roberts are expected to reunite for the sequel. While specific plot details remain under wraps, the script has been described as “really solid” by Clooney, with George indicating that the film will represent a subtle genre pivot from previous Ocean’s installments. The original Ocean’s trilogy earned over $1.4 billion at the global box office, and with Garcia’s return confirmed, expectations are sky-high for the franchise’s continuation.
Andy Garcia’s Return as Terry Benedict
Andy Garcia has officially confirmed his return to the Ocean’s franchise after more than 15 years. The actor will reprise his iconic role as Terry Benedict, the calculating casino owner who has evolved from primary antagonist to reluctant ally throughout the original trilogy. Garcia’s character was central to the first Ocean’s Eleven (2001), serving as the target of Danny Ocean’s elaborate Las Vegas heist. Over the course of the trilogy, Benedict transformed into an uneasy ally, bringing his signature slick menace to the story.
Garcia made the confirmation during an exclusive interview with TheWrap on November 10, 2025, while promoting the second season of Taylor Sheridan’s drama series Landman. When asked about his involvement in Ocean’s 14, Garcia expressed enthusiasm about reuniting with the franchise: “That seems to be—that’s more than a whisper, I think. It’s out there.”
Cast and Characters: Original Ensemble Reunites
Confirmed Cast Members:
– George Clooney as Danny Ocean (confirmed returning star and producer)
– Brad Pitt as Rusty Ryan (confirmed, though finishing The Adventures of Cliff Booth concurrent to filming scheduling)
– Matt Damon as Linus Caldwell (expected to return)
– Don Cheadle as Basher Tarr (expected to return)
– Julia Roberts as Tess Ocean (expected to return; Clooney recently had dinner with Roberts to reconnect)
– Andy Garcia as Terry Benedict (officially confirmed)
– Elliot Gould as Reuben Tishkoff (expected to return)
– Casey Affleck as Virgil Malloy (expected to return)
Notable Cast Losses: The franchise has experienced significant losses since the original trilogy. Bernie Mac, who portrayed the charismatic Frank Catton, passed away in 2008. Carl Reiner, who played the clever Saul Bloom, died in 2020 at age 98. Their absence will be deeply felt by the ensemble.
Director and Creative Team: David Leitch Takes Over
Director: David Leitch | Previous Notable Films: Bullet Train (2022), Deadpool 2 (2018), The Fall Guy (2024) | Significance: First mainline Ocean’s film not directed by Steven Soderbergh | Prior Relationship: Leitch previously collaborated with Brad Pitt on Bullet Train
David Leitch represents a bold directorial departure for the Ocean’s franchise. Steven Soderbergh, who directed the original Ocean’s trilogy (2001-2007) and produced the 2018 spinoff Ocean’s 8, has stepped away from the franchise. Soderbergh told media outlets he felt “done” with the series and is “happy to see fresh creative voices step up.”
Leitch’s appointment signals a stylistic shift. Known for kinetic action filmmaking and visual sophistication, Leitch brings a different energy compared to Soderbergh’s signature slick, jazzy aesthetic. However, his previous collaboration with Brad Pitt on Bullet Train suggests chemistry that could translate to the Ocean’s ensemble dynamic.
Production Timeline and Filming Schedule
Original Filming Start Date: January 2026 | Revised Start Date: TBA (delayed due to scheduling conflicts) | Cause of Delay: Brad Pitt’s concurrent commitment to The Adventures of Cliff Booth (sequel to Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) | Budget Approval: Officially approved by Warner Bros. in October 2025 | Expected Release: Late 2027 or early 2028 (estimated based on production timeline)
While Clooney indicated in October 2025 that production would commence within 9-10 months, scheduling complications have pushed the timeline back. The primary bottleneck involves Brad Pitt’s other commitments. Garcia himself acknowledged that timing represented “the only real obstacle,” but emphasized that enthusiasm among cast and crew remains high.
Script and Story Details
Screenplay Status: Completed | Clooney’s Assessment: “Really solid script” and “genuinely great script” | Narrative Direction: Genre pivot from previous Ocean’s films (specific details undisclosed) | Terry Benedict’s Role: Central to the plot (exact nature unrevealed but likely involves his character’s characteristic unpredictability)
George Clooney teased in October 2025 that the new script represents a subtle departure from previous Ocean’s installments, suggesting the film won’t simply repeat the heist formula. Clooney mentioned the concept has “a bit of a genre pivot,” though he declined to elaborate further. Fans speculate that Benedict may be either outsmarted, double-crossed, or forced into an uneasy new alliance with the crew.
Franchise Box Office History and Expectations
Ocean’s Eleven (2001): $450.7 million worldwide | Ocean’s Twelve (2004): $362.1 million worldwide | Ocean’s Thirteen (2007): $311.4 million worldwide | Ocean’s 8 (2018): $297.7 million worldwide | Franchise Total: Over $1.4 billion globally | Ocean’s 14 Expectations: Given star power and franchise legacy, box office projections suggest potential for $300-400+ million globally
The Ocean’s franchise maintains impressive box office longevity. Despite declining returns across the trilogy, each film significantly profited, and Ocean’s 8 demonstrated that the franchise could sustain audience interest with a refreshed ensemble. Ocean’s 14’s potential reunion of the original cast combined with Leitch’s directorial prestige suggests Warner Bros. anticipates substantial commercial success.
Parallel Development: Margot Robbie Prequel Project
Concurrent with Ocean’s 14 development, Warner Bros. is simultaneously developing an untitled Ocean’s prequel reportedly starring Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper as Danny Ocean’s parents. This project represents the studio’s strategy to expand the Ocean’s universe beyond the primary trilogy and its sequel. The prequel has reportedly been assigned director Lee Isaac Chung, known for his work on Minari and Burning. George Clooney joked about this development, suggesting that “Margot Robbie is my mother, Ryan Gosling is my father. When you think about it, it actually makes sense.”
Where to Watch Ocean’s 14
Theatrical Release Date: TBA (Expected late 2027 or early 2028) | Distribution: Warner Bros. (theatrical) | Streaming Availability: Will likely premiere on HBO Max following theatrical window (6-8 weeks post-theatrical, typical for Warner Bros. films) | Note: Specific platform agreements have not been announced
Ocean’s 14 has not yet been officially released, and no premiere date has been announced beyond late 2027/early 2028 estimates. The film will receive a theatrical release from Warner Bros. Following Warner Bros.’ standard release strategy, the film will likely arrive on HBO Max approximately 6-8 weeks after its theatrical premiere, though official streaming arrangements have not been confirmed.
