Channing Dungey, the chairman and CEO of Warner Bros Television Group, recently revealed that there is growing interest in a potential remake of the classic heist film “Ocean’s Eleven.” Speaking at the Banff World Media Festival, Dungey discussed the possibility of reimagining the iconic film, which originally featured the Rat Pack, including Frank Sinatra, and was later revived with a star-studded cast led by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts.
During a panel moderated by Deadline, Dungey shared her thoughts on rebooting Warner Bros movie titles for television. She specifically mentioned “Ocean’s Eleven” as a prime candidate for a limited series format. “I think about things like Ocean’s Eleven, for example. That kind of a caper film, which is a great two-hour romp and what we might be able to do with that in sort of a limited series format, things like that might be kind of fun,” she said.
Dungey emphasized that the decision to reboot a film is not solely based on the title itself but rather on the creative vision brought to the table. “There are just so many titles that it’s really more about someone walking into the office with a perspective or a point of view, or this is why we should do this in this way,” she explained. “It’s not like there’s one title that I’m like, ‘Oh, I can’t wait to dust it off.’ It’s more when I look at certain films and think, ‘Okay, this was an amazing two and a half hours. But if we had a longer period of time to explore those categories, or to tackle that story,’ that’s really where the fun begins.”
In addition to discussing “Ocean’s Eleven,” Dungey also touched on the future of the popular Apple TV+ series “Ted Lasso.” Despite the show running for three successful seasons, there has been ongoing speculation about whether Jason Sudeikis would return for more episodes or a potential spinoff. Dungey revealed that Apple is interested in continuing the “Ted Lasso” universe in some form, whether it be a fourth season or a spinoff.
“We’ve had conversations about all of the above. I think Jason Sudeikis is open to the idea, but I think he wants to have the right idea, which I appreciate,” Dungey said. “We at Warner Bros appreciate, Apple appreciates, because it’s the sort of thing where you don’t want to go do more, just for the sake of more, you want to go do more, because you actually have something to say, you have a story that you want to tell. We’ll see what happens.”
Dungey, who took on her role in October 2020 during the pandemic and before the Warner Bros Discovery merger, also addressed the current challenges facing the television industry. She highlighted the ongoing evolution of the business and the disruptions in how consumers find and consume media. “These are the challenges that everyone’s facing, because the business is at a really critical period of evolution, a lot of things are changing, the way consumers find and consume media continues to be disrupted,” she noted. “The economics of the situation continue to be difficult. You have a lot of companies that are going through consolidation and a lot of change, which for us as a studio that sells everywhere, the buyers keep shifting and changing and morphing.”
Despite these challenges, Dungey has continued to navigate the complexities of the industry, earning recognition as ADWEEK’s 2024 TV Executive of the Year. Her leadership at Warner Bros Television Group has been marked by her ability to adapt and innovate, even in the face of industry-wide disruptions.
As the television landscape continues to evolve, the potential for a new “Ocean’s Eleven” series and the future of “Ted Lasso” remain exciting prospects for both Warner Bros and audiences alike. With Dungey at the helm, the possibilities for reimagining classic films and beloved series are endless, promising fresh and engaging content for viewers.
