Bradley Cooper turns Monaco into 1962 Grand Prix set for Ocean's Eleven prequel

Bradley Cooper and Margot Robbie spent five days filming at Monaco’s iconic street circuit this week, transforming the principality back to the 1960s for an untitled Ocean’s Eleven prequel set partly against the backdrop of the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix. Replica vintage Formula 1 cars ran on track between 24 and 28 August as the Warner Bros. production — currently shooting under the working title Sandcastles — brought some of motorsport’s most recognisable corners back to a bygone era.

Cooper, who directs, writes and stars in the film, plays one half of a criminal couple alongside Robbie. The two portray the parents of Danny Ocean — the character made famous by George Clooney across the modern Ocean’s franchise. “Before Danny Ocean ever stepped foot in Vegas, two masterminds taught him everything he knows — his parents,” Robbie said during a Warner Bros. preview reel at CinemaCon. “You’ll see them in their prime, pulling off an epic heist at the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix.”

The Monaco shoot took in several of the circuit’s most celebrated locations, including Port Hercule, Avenue Princesse Grace, Place du Casino, Portier and Larvotto. Additional filming has taken place in Paris and Nice. The wider cast includes Wagner Moura, Monica Barbaro, Josh Gad, Vicky Krieps, George MacKay, Lauren Ridloff, Jack Holden and Omar Sy.

The 1962 Monaco Grand Prix, which provides the film’s centrepiece heist setting, was won by Bruce McLaren driving a Cooper. Jim Clark had taken pole position for Lotus but retired on lap 55 with a clutch failure, leaving McLaren to take victory ahead of Ferrari’s Phil Hill and Lorenzo Bandini.

Cooper, 51, is best known as an actor for A Star Is Born, Silver Linings Playbook and The Hangover, and previously directed Maestro and Nightmare Alley. The Ocean’s Eleven prequel is scheduled for release on 25 June 2027.