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Weinstein Teases Matt Damon in 'Rounders 2' with Miramax Reunion

by Ethan Anderton
December 16, 2013
Source: Deadline

After leaving to form The Weinstein Company years ago, producers Harvey and Bob Weinstein are returning to Miramax for a new multi-year, multi-title film, TV and live stage co-production and co-distribution agreement involving library-derived and original development projects based on some of the most iconic titles in the Miramax library. The Weinsteins founded Miramax in 1979, but ended up leaving to form their own brand in 2005. Now this new deal will span 20 years, and part of the new agreement includes sequels to Miramax's hits Rounders and for some reason, Shakespeare in Love too. Read on!

Speaking to Deadline, Weinstein said, "I personally have never made a sequel, but I will make Shakespeare In Love as one. I’ve always wanted to do that and now we have the impetus to." We have no idea what kind of story the film would tell or if Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes or Ben Affleck would come back for the sequel, but it's apparently a priority project to kick-off the new deal. The same can be said for a sequel to the poker gambling drama Rounders. Weinstein is more forthcoming with the details on that sequel, which seems to be on the fast track:

“I’ve discussed making 'Rounders 2' with Matt Damon and I would say that’s going to be instantaneous. [Writers David Levien and Brian Koppelman] have a great idea, a way to make it more international where you start the card game in Paris, that’s all I want to say. There might be a certain beautiful Parisian actress involved in it, and then we’re off to the racetrack and Vegas with Matty and Edward Norton, and a new supervillain to replace John Malkovich."

That new supervillain is said to be Robert De Niro. It's already been 15 years since Rounders hit theaters, but some sequels have taken longer to come together (see TRON: Legacy). The film does have plenty of loyal followers, especially in the world of poker. However, the more prime time for a sequel would have been in the early 2000s when poker was all over TV and high school and college students were playing it everywhere. But it sounds like the sequel might amp things up beyond cards. And as long as Damon and Norton are back in the game, we're at least somewhat interested.

But Miramax and The Weinstein Company aren't just reviving old projects with sequels. Deadline says they'll also develop The Alibi, a comedy from Stephen Colbert which follows a service that cleans up messes and creates cover stories for cheating spouses. A screenplay from Stephen Colbert sounds more than intriguing, so we're very interested to see how that turns out. In addition, there's also a project called The Ninth Life Of Louis Drax, which was previously being developed by Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack, who have both now passed away.

All of these new projects will get moving sometime in early to mid 2013 and the Weinsteins couldn't be more thrilled to get back to their production company home. Harvey and Bob said, "This is an amazing opportunity to reunite us with the company named after our parents Miriam and Max. We salute Qatar Holding and Tom Barrack of Colony Capital for joining forces in this most exciting of endeavors. From movies to TV shows to the Broadway stage they have reinvigorated Miramax productions and to have the Miramax banner fly once again is a dream come true for all of us." Hopefully this results in some great films.

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