The Monaco Grand Prix, the ultimate showcase of Formula 1, will be at the heart of a future film starring Margot Robbie, featuring a heist imagined during a race in the 1960s.
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The Monaco Grand Prix has always been an anomaly in the Formula 1 calendar. A narrow street circuit, extreme proximity to the barriers, and a unique luxurious environment make it a distinctive theater.
In the 1960s, this uniqueness was even more pronounced: minimal safety, open paddock, and total closeness between drivers, teams, and spectators. A context that, when transposed to cinema, offers a credible setting for a heist storyline.
It is precisely this angle that the upcoming project starring Margot Robbie exploits, announced at CinemaCon, the largest global gathering of film industry professionals held annually in Las Vegas.
“Even before Danny Ocean set foot in Las Vegas, two brains taught him everything: his parents, explains actress Margot Robbie. You will see them at their peak, and in our new film, carrying out a spectacular heist during the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix.”
Margot Robbie at the center of the project
The actress will share the screen with Bradley Cooper, who will also direct the film. Both are expected to portray Danny Ocean’s parents, a character popularized in cinema by George Clooney.
The project is set in the universe of Ocean’s 11, but takes a different approach by going back to the origins of the character, in a new historical setting for the franchise.
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Filming is scheduled to begin this year, with a release planned for 2027.
Formula 1 as a cinematic backdrop
This choice of the Monaco Grand Prix illustrates a broader trend: Hollywood’s growing interest in Formula 1, whose global exposure and visual aesthetics make it an attractive setting.
Monaco, in particular, concentrates all the desired elements: sporting tension, track density, ubiquitous luxury, and direct access to areas usually restricted in other disciplines.
In this context, setting a heist during the 1962 edition allows combining historical realism and narrative freedom, without the logistical and security constraints of modern sport.
A broader strategy around the franchise
Meanwhile, George Clooney is developing a new installment bringing together the historic figures of the saga, including Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, and Don Cheadle.
This parallel project is expected to feature aging characters, extending the universe introduced in the early 2000s, while the prequel focused on Monaco explores a new timeline.
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