A Good Luck Charm

Variety's Chris Gardner has some of the best casting news I've heard in a while...

Al Pacino has been added to Steven Soderbergh's "Ocean's Thirteen" gang.

Thesp joins the cast -- headed by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle and Bernie Mac -- and their franchise's new leading lady, Ellen Barkin.

Jerry Weintraub is producing the pic, which has a July 21 start date. Shooting is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

"Rounders" scribes Brian Koppelman and David Levien penned the script.

Details of the plot are being kept under wraps, but Warners revealed that Pacino will be playing Willie Banks, the owner of a high-profile casino and hotel in Las Vegas.

The idea of Al Pacino mixing it up with Clooney et al--pleases me no end. Until now I have been dubious about a third Ocean's flick...Of course the script has to be a home run for Al's participation to really work. At least now though, I'm actually looking forward to seeing this, as opposed to avoiding it all together as I had planned to do.

Fingers Crossed...