How the Coen Brothers Nearly Starred in Ocean’s Eleven
Steven Soderbergh almost cast Joel and Ethan Coen in Ocean’s Eleven, a surprising move that would have marked their acting debut. Discover how close the iconic directors came to joining the blockbuster’s star-studded cast.
Many acclaimed filmmakers have stepped in front of the camera, whether for a quick cameo or a more substantial role, but Joel and Ethan Coen have always kept their distance from acting. Their rare appearances on screen are limited to blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameos in Sam Raimi’s films—showing up as reporters at an execution in Crimewave and as the driver of a familiar Oldsmobile in Darkman. If the Coens ever wanted to follow Alfred Hitchcock’s tradition of background cameos, they would have done it by now. Unlike Quentin Tarantino or M. Night Shyamalan, they’ve never tried to turn themselves into recurring on-screen personalities.
Yet, there was a moment when the Coen brothers almost landed real speaking roles in a major Hollywood production, even if the idea came as a surprise to the film ’s director. When Steven Soderbergh was assembling the cast for his $450 million hit Ocean’s Eleven, the plan was to fill the movie with as many recognizable faces as possible. Casting the Coens as siblings wouldn’t have been a stretch, and that’s exactly what was considered for the roles of Turk and Virgil Malloy.
Unexpected Casting Choices
Originally, Luke and Owen Wilson were set to play the Malloy brothers, but their schedules conflicted with their work on Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums. With the Wilsons out, Casey Affleck and Scott Caan eventually took the parts, despite not looking much alike. However, in September 2000—just four months before filming began—rumors surfaced that Warner Bros. was eyeing Joel and Ethan Coen for the roles. It would have been a wild casting coup for the film.
Steven Soderbergh later admitted he wasn’t sure if the Coens were ever seriously considered, but he suspected George Clooney, who had just worked with the brothers, might have suggested it.
“It doesn’t sound like a terrible idea,”
Soderbergh said.
“And I’m sure George had a hand in that, because he had just worked with them.”
What Might Have Been
Soderbergh reflected on how quickly the idea might have been dismissed, saying,
“If it didn’t get shot fairly quickly by one of us, they would have shot it down pretty quickly, I’m sure. Hey, it’s not the worst casting idea I’ve ever heard, I’ll say that.”
He seemed open to the possibility, but knowing the Coens weren’t exactly seasoned actors, he figured their scenes would have needed to be filmed fast—otherwise, the brothers probably wouldn’t have agreed. In the end, things worked out as they did, and it’s hard to imagine the Coens sticking around for the sequels even if they had taken the roles. Still, the thought of them joining the Ocean’s crew remains a fascinating what-if in Hollywood history.