Bradley Cooper is now a frontrunner to not only star opposite Margot Robbie in the upcoming “Ocean’s 11” prequel but also to write and direct the highly anticipated Warner Bros. film. This development comes after the project saw recent directorial changes, with Lee Isaac Chung exiting, following an earlier departure by Jay Roach.

Should Cooper finalize his agreement to helm the movie, produced by Robbie’s LuckyChap company, it would ensure that the production remains on schedule for filming before the end of the year. This would mark Cooper’s fourth directorial feature, adding to his acclaimed portfolio which includes “A Star Is Born,” “Maestro,” and “Is This Thing On?” from last year.

The prequel is slated to unfold in 1960s Europe, preceding the events depicted in the 2001 casino heist comedy “Ocean’s Eleven,” which famously starred George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts. Carrie Solomon has already penned a draft of the screenplay for this historical narrative. The original “Ocean’s 11” debuted in 1960, featuring the iconic Rat Pack members Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford, and Dean Martin.

The “Ocean’s” franchise has a rich history, with the Steven Soderbergh-directed modern trilogy spawning two sequels: 2004’s “Ocean’s Twelve” and 2007’s “Ocean’s Thirteen.” The universe was further expanded with the 2018 “Ocean’s Eight” reboot, which showcased a new ensemble cast including Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, and Rihanna.

In parallel, George Clooney is also involved in a separate “Ocean’s” movie, bringing back Roberts, Damon, Pitt, and Don Cheadle. This film focuses on the original group navigating their roles as aging criminals, with Clooney expressing an appeal for the narrative of characters who “lost a step” but are still intelligent enough to orchestrate a scheme by adapting to their limitations.

The “Ocean’s” prequel is among several projects LuckyChap is developing at Warner Bros. The production company, co-founded by Margot Robbie, secured a first-look deal with the studio following the immense success of their Oscar-nominated and $1.4 billion-grossing film “Barbie.” Recent collaborations under this deal include Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” and an upcoming reimagining of “Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman” with Tim Burton. Details regarding Cooper’s expanded role were initially reported by Puck, while Warner Bros. has chosen not to comment on the matter.