Oceans 8: Why did Matt Damon's cameo get cut?

Damon and Reiner had already filmed their cameos long before any rumbles of discontent had brewed.

Reiner, who played Saul Bloom in the previous Ocean’s movies, said last summer that he filmed a scene with Bullock.

Matt Damon, who played Linus Caldwell, said in a few interviews he was set to film a brief appearance early in 2018.

But by the time Ocean’s 8 editing rolled around, the #MeToo movement was going strong.

Damon received criticism for some of the objectionable comments he made about Weinstein.

Fans of the all-female Ocean’s 8 movie called for his cameo to be cut.

The petition stated: “Damon’s inclusion would trivialize the serious nature of the charges against sexual abusers like Weinstein — a show massive disrespect for the brave women speaking out.”

Ocean’s 8 director Garry Ross, who co-wrote Ocean’s 8 with Olivia Milch, said that the cuts had to do with storytelling, not politics

Ross told The Hollywood Reporter: “[Picking the cameos] is an eclectic process of how does it fit in the story and how is the narrative unfolding?

“This more than any movie I’ve done had a really copious editorial process where you play with stuff, you find stuff,” he added.

When Ross was asked about Damon’s cameo in Ocean’s 8, he remained vague and said: “There were a lot of people who were gracious to us that just for editorial and storytelling reasons didn’t make it in and some who did.”

The Ocean’s 8 crew is helmed by Bullock, and the cast is rounded out by Cate Blanchette, Anne Hathaway, Sarah Paulson, Mindy Kaling, Helena Bonham Carter, Awkwafina, Rihanna – sporting dreds – and James Corden.

Oceans 8 hits UK cinemas on Monday, 18 June, 2018.