George Clooney on What He Really Thinks About Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling Playing His Parents

George Clooney has weighed in on the news that Barbie co-stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling will be playing his parents in the upcoming Ocean’s 11 prequel. The actor, who played slick criminal Danny Ocean in Steven Soderbergh’s heist trilogy, spoke with People at the premiere of his new movie, The Boys in the Boat.

When asked by the outlet if he was aware of the new Ocean’s installment, Clooney replied affirmatively. “Yeah! Margot Robbie is my mother? I've always thought that,” he quipped.

“Ryan Gosling is my father,” Clooney continued. “Now when you think about it, it makes sense. Truly.”

In October, producer Josey McNamara revealed to GameRadar+ that Robbie and Gosling would reunite for the prequel, set to be directed by Jay Roach (Austin Powers, Bombshell). Clooney’s Ocean’s 11 (2001) was a modern remake of a 1960 Frank Sinatra vehicle, and the prequel is set to honor that legacy. Robbie’s publicist described it to People as "an original Ocean's film set in the '60s.”

According to Showbiz 411, it will concern Gosling and Robbie’s characters introducing their son, Danny, and daughter, Debbie, to the heist trade. Debbie is a younger iteration of Sandra Bullock’s character from the 2018 spin-off Ocean’s 8.

"They’re wonderful together," McNamara gushed to GamesRadar+ of the Barbie co-stars. "The more projects even outside of [Ocean’s] we can have them do would be amazing.” Though she couldn’t say much about the plot, McNamara confirmed that the crew is “just trying to do right by the franchise” and is “excited for people to experience it when it’s ready.”

Clooney's latest movie as director, the feel-good biopic The Boys in the Boat, hits theaters on Christmas Day.