Runner Runner Failure Endangers Rounders 2?

While writers David Levien and Brian Koppelman have already finished the story of Rounders 2, apparently the studio will only give the green light for the production if the Runner Runner movie proves a success. Chances of that happening seem slim.

Just recently, the movie Runner Runner has hit cinemas worldwide but it failed to impress the audience or critics. For all the Rounders fans, however, it would be important for the film to be a success as it may be decisive about the future of a Rounders sequel. In theory, everything is set to shoot Rounders 2, except for the copyright holders’ willingness to produce the movie. Apparently, the financial success or failure of Runner Runner can tip the scales.

“We have the story for ‘Rounders II’ worked out, and all the actors and the director of the first film are ready to come do it. It’s a matter of the companies who control the rights getting behind it and allowing it to happen,” writers Levien and Koppelman said.

A memorable session in the Rounders movie:

Even though Rounders has evolved into a cult movie for grinders, at its time it was a minor financial success. With a low budget of $12 million for a Hollywood movie, it barely made profits and only the “Moneymaker boom” boosted its income to over $70 million from DVD sells.

The financial success of Runner Runner is also questionable at the moment. In its first five days of screening, it produced a humble $9.2 million; a huge failure, especially if we consider the $68.4 million made by Gravity in the same period and the $62 million produced by Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 in just 12 days. With a largely negative press, it is unlikely to persuade Rounders copyright holders into producing another poker movie anytime soon.