It appears that the ladies of Ocean’s Eight have zeroed in on their heist target, as Variety claims that Homeland actor Damian Lewis is in final negotiations to play the main antagonist and ex-lover of Sandra Bullock’s character in the upcoming all-female Ocean’s Eleven spinoff.
By the sound of it, Lewis will be taking on a role not unlike that of Andy Garcia’s Terry Benedict in much of Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s trilogy. Originally, it was believed that the actor would only be making a cameo in the film after he was spotted on set, but it soon became clear that his role was much larger than that.
Since leaving Homeland after three seasons with an Emmy and Golden Globe for Best Actor – Drama in his hands, Lewis has been working steadily, starring in such TV projects as Wolf Hall and Billions. Billions drew in modest ratings throughout its first season and just wrapped production on a second, while Wolf Hall earned Lewis yet another Emmy and Golden Globe nomination, but this time in the Best Supporting Actor – Limited Series category.
Gary Ross (The Hunger Games) will direct a number of Hollywood’s most talented actresses in the film, including Sandra Bullock (Gravity), Cate Blanchett (Thor: Ragnarok), Anne Hathaway (Colossal) Elizabeth Banks (Power Rangers), Mindy Kaling (The Night Before), Rihanna (Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets), Sarah Paulson (The People v. O. J. Simpson), Awkwafina (Storks) and Helena Bonham Carter (Alice Through The Looking Glass). Ross also penned the film’s script alongside Olivia Murch.
Originally published December 7, 2016. Updated April 15, 2018.
