A few years ago we did a retro review of the iconic poker film Rounders, in which Matt Damon and Edward Norton starred. Credited even by some professional poker players with helping to inspire the so-called “poker boom” of the early-2000s, the film earned a permanent place among the best in the casino and gambling genre. And now, there’s talk of a sequel.
Such talk actually began late in 2013 when a few different reports made it sound like a sequel was imminent. The idea was for Damon and Norton both to return, and there were even rumors that Robert De Niro would hop on board as the new “villain” (though John Malkovich, who played the infamous Teddy KGB in the original film, was also rumored to be returning in a smaller role). No concrete details emerged in 2014, unfortunately, but Norton did say on Letterman recently that a sequel remained a possibility.
But what exactly would a Rounders sequel look like? The original has such a distinctly late-’90s atmosphere to it. The film takes advantage of a brand of poker—played in basements and back rooms with shady characters—that has become, in the eyes of many, a thing of the past. Updating the story to modern times may be trickier than some assume. But just for fun as we wait for actual news of the film, here are a few ideas on how they could make it work.
For starters, the film could see Matt Damon’s character, Mike McDermott, transformed into a well-known poker professional. At the end of Rounders (spoiler alert), McDermott has paid off his gambling debts and secured enough of his own cash to buy in to the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. And in the years since the film, the idea of skilled amateur players turning small sums into millions has become far more of a reality than even the folks behind Rounders could have predicted. Poker news site Card Player recounts the infamous tale of Chris Moneymaker, who turned a $40 online entry fee into a World Series of Poker win in 2003, and from that day on many amateur poker players have adopted an “anything’s possible” stance. Well, in theory, Mike McDermott was on his way to becoming a Moneymaker-type. He ended the previous film on such a hot streak it almost makes sense for him to start the new one as an established pro.
Speaking of Moneymaker’s online entry fee, introducing an element of Internet poker would be wise for the Rounders 2 creators as well. As mentioned, the original movie showcases a brand of poker that’s disappeared somewhat into the past, in part to be replaced by online poker rooms and high-stakes tournaments. In fact, some of these rooms and tournaments even cater specifically to amateur players. Betfair is one of the leading international online poker rooms, and it offers numerous new player welcome promotions and tournament options designed to help amateurs get into the game. They’re tempting offerings, but they also keep the online poker industry extraordinarily competitive, bringing in a high volume of players and helping the serious ones to excel. In many ways, this is the new culture of everyman poker, replacing the shady back rooms of Rounders. And while personal interaction, cheating, and crime are downplayed online, there’s still plenty of drama to be portrayed in digital poker rooms. This could happen perhaps through an effort by Norton’s character (Worm) to get rich quick, or as a means of gaining entry to McDermott’s level (should McDermott become a pro).
Finally, the most significant decision any Rounders 2 creators could make has little to do with updating the setting to the current decade, and more to do with how one creates a strong sequel in the first place: turn Worm into the villain. While talk of adding De Niro or bringing back Malkovich is certainly exciting, simply inserting a new antagonist can feel artificial or forced and inevitably stretches out the story. The way Rounders ended, Worm had put his old friend in a very difficult situation and appeared to be on a path toward self-destruction. In an imagined future in which Mike goes on to great success, Worm could conceivably be an embittered rival corrupted by envy. Ed Norton is about as good an actor as there is in Hollywood—he was just up for an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role—and could serve as a ready-made antagonist, with a De Niro or Malkovich in more of a complementary role.
These are just a few fun ideas to consider. Who knows which direction the people behind the Rounders sequel will actually go. But in updating the story to the modern atmosphere of competitive poker, and considering the trajectories of the main characters, there appears to be a natural shape for such a film to take.