Rumours have been swirling for several months, if not years, now surrounding the potential for Rounders 2, a sequel to the cult classic poker movie which helped ignite a worldwide love affair with Texas Hold’em.

For those of you who may be familiar with the 1998 original, Rounders (John Dahl) wasn’t just a tale of playing cards. It was also a story of bravery, skill, and redemption, wrapped up in slick, tension-filled drama. The film remains one of Matt Damon’s highlights, despite the film not quite having the same box office appeal as the likes of The Martian. It’s still a sight better than Ridley Scott’s medieval drama The Last Duel, which has a forgettable quality.

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The legacy of Rounders

Before the release of Rounders, poker games were still the reserve of back room pubs, bars, and saloons; not to mention die-hard enthusiasts hosting home games. However, Rounders arrived right on cue, just a few years before the boom of online poker, which inspired a new generation of players motivated to take their shot at the felt.

Many of today’s top professionals have insisted they were inspired to play poker by this movie. It also helped that many casual players soon discovered that it was easier to learn how to play poker than they first thought, especially once they’d mastered the ranking of the 10 poker hands and the betting dynamics. But this movie became well known even in well-established poker circles Who can forget John Malkovich’s deliciously over-the-top Russian accent as Teddy KGB, telling the club to “pay that man his money” – a phrase that poker players still use tongue-in-cheek today.

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The potential angles for Rounders 2 explored

When we last saw Mike McDermott (Matt Damon), he was heading off to Las Vegas to test his skills against the world’s best. More than two decades later, has he become a poker legend, or did the highs and lows of the game take their toll? A compelling angle would see Mike return to the game after years away, perhaps as a mentor to a young, hungry player trying to navigate the modern poker landscape. Think Creed (Ryan Coogler, 2016; pictured below) but with poker – Damon passing down his knowledge while wrestling with his own demons from the past.

Edward Norton’s character, Worm, was a scene-stealer in Rounders – a charismatic but deeply unreliable friend who ultimately landed Mike in trouble. A sequel could explore Worm’s attempt at redemption. Maybe he’s finally cleaned up his act and is trying to go legit, but old habits die hard. Does he fall back into his degenerate ways, or does he finally get the big score he’s always chased? Watching Mike and Worm reunite—this time as poker adversaries rather than partners—would be a fascinating dynamic to explore.

The internet is undoubtedly the biggest change in poker since Rounders was first released. Online poker revolutionised the game, allowing players from all over the world to compete without ever stepping foot in a casino. A sequel could dive into this new reality, with Mike (or a new protagonist) facing off against faceless, data-driven opponents. Could Rounders 2 feature a storyline about a rising AI poker bot challenging the best human players? It might sound far-fetched, but poker-playing AI has already beaten the world’s top pros in real life.

John Malkovich’s Teddy KGB was one of the most memorable villains of the ‘90s, a cookie-munching Russian mobster who ran the most dangerous poker game in New York. If Rounders 2 happens, can we really say no to another round of Teddy KGB’s wild antics? Maybe he’s still running the underground scene, maybe he’s moved to Vegas, or maybe he’s been forced out of the game but is desperate to get back in. Either way, Malkovich reprising this role would be an absolute treat.

A Rounders sequel has been teased for years, with Matt Damon and Edward Norton both expressing interest in returning to production if the right story comes along. The poker world has changed dramatically since 1998, but the appeal of a great poker movie remains the same—smart writing, compelling characters, and the thrill of the game itself.