Anybody who has gagged while watching Lucky You or High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story will be pleased to know that a good poker movie is finally on the way. That’s because Miramax recently announced that they’re rolling out a sequel to the 1998 film Rounders.
The official announcement by Miramax stated:
Miramax and the Weinstein Company announce an agreement to create sequels to some of Miramax’s best-known properties, and to partner on potential new television shows and special edition home entertainment products. The first films to be produced under the agreement will be sequels to Bad Santa, Rounders and Shakespeare in Love.
Judging by this statement, it’s pretty clear that Miramax is serious about making another Rounders movie. However, the details stop here since little is known as far as actors, plot, and characters go. Last time we left the main characters – stud player/law school dropout Matt McDermott and his degenerate buddy Werm – McDermott had just made enough money to get him and Werm out of trouble; he was also on his way to the WSOP.
My prediction is that the new Rounders will mix in some WSOP action along with online poker since it’s just as big as live poker. I just don’t know where Werm will fit in, but I’m hoping that he joins McDermott and gets him into some more trouble.
Also, I want the new film to include John Turturro’s character somehow since he was my favorite. Turturro played Knish, a New York City grinder who mentors McDermott and makes a living through poker because he doesn’t chase pipe dreams. To me, there’s something admirable about Knish (based off of real-life player Joey Bagels) and his ability to avoid losing his emotions or getting run over by the world of high stakes poker.
