STEVEN SODERBERGH - SODERBERGH PUTS END TO OCEANS SERIES

Director STEVEN SODERBERGH insists OCEAN'S THIRTEEN will be the last installment of the lucrative franchise led by an all-star cast including GEORGE CLOONEY, BRAD PITT and MATT DAMON. The director confirmed the news during a question and answer session with reporters at the Edinburgh Film Festival in Scotland on Saturday night (19AUG06). Soderbergh told the crowd they decided to make another installment because "George wanted to go out strong" and that OCEAN'S TWELVE was too complicated, according to film website Dark Horizons. The film-makers wanted the series to return to its comedic roots this time around and they've also added AL PACINO as a villain. Soderbergh adds, "This guy's a monster!" The announcement comes just days after the film's producer, JERRY WEINTRAUB, told the Hollywood trade papers, "I want them (the cast) all back for OCEAN'S FOURTEEN."