Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin in Ocean's Thirteen

Premiere: Let's talk about the other new addition besides Ellen Barkin: Al Pacino who plays villain Willy Bank. I remember when you guys were writing the script, he was the guy you all wanted. It wasn't sure that you were going to get him, but this was the guy you were writing for. Do you want to talk about — a little about the character's evolution?

BK: He's a harsh, old school Vegas character. And he's pretty outsized too.

DL: Yeah, he's colorful.

BK: He was really fun to write actually. We were inspired by the underground tapes of, say Buddy Rich and...

DL: Paul Anka.

BK: ...Paul Anka, yelling at their bands. These kind of guys who can be super charming, super fun to be around, but if do something to make them turn on you, you're like cursed the rest of your life. And Al's hilarious. He's so funny in the movie. And it's just mind-boggling to get to work with him. I didn't know what it was going to be like to meet a true legend like that. He was — he is funny. And still really inspired to do what he does. Loves acting.

DL: He's pretty tireless when he's working and you know even when he's doing the off camera feed to another player, he gives it everything for the other actor. He's one of the generous type actors, as they say. It's great watching.

Premiere: So what was it like when you found out Pacino was taking the role?

BK: We actually — I think we actually high-fived.

Premiere: You have some collaborations happening with Steven in the future?

DL: Steven has a several picture deal with Cuban/Wagner and to make these DV movies that release on DVD actually the same time as the theatrical releases. And we're working with him on one, set in New York, that's based on the real-life phenomenon of these very high-priced escorts who provide something they call The Girlfriend Experience. We're working on our third collaboration, as producers, with writer-director Neil Burger, with whom we made Interview With The Assassin and The Illusionist; [it's] a film called The Return starring Rachel McAdams, Tim Robbins, and Michael Peña.

BK: There's a screenplay we've done for Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal's Tribeca Films called The Winter of Frankie Machine, from a novel by Don Winslow. And we're just now embarking on collaboration for a film with Michael Mann.

Don't miss out on great interviews like this, and much more — subscribe to Premiere's weekly newsletter now!