The Online Casino Industry Thriving: Now is The Perfect Time to Release Rounders 2
Rounders is one of the greatest cult classics of all time and is revered by members of the online poker and casino scene. It wasn’t viewed as exceptional critically or commercially successful upon its release, but it went on to be lauded for the effect it had on the internet gambling scene that followed.
A lot has changed in the world of gambling since John Dahl released his iconic picture in 1998. The casino industry is thriving, and it attracts millions more players every year. Now could be the perfect time to release Rounders 2 and adapt its themes to suit the modern age of gambling and card play.
Online Poker Options Have Come a Long Way Since Rounders
When Rounders was first released, the online poker industry had barely started. Internet access wasn’t ubiquitous like it is now, and only 30 percent of people in the USA had access to the online world. Some of today’s most flourishing industries, therefore, hadn’t even gotten started. Rounders credited with inspiring more people to get into poker and seek out online poker sites. This, in turn, acted as a catalyst for the poker boom of the 2000s.
In the early days of the poker boom, dedicated online poker sites reigned supreme and offered players the best ways to play the game. Nowadays, though, the card game is often integrated into the offerings of online casinos. For example, in lists of casino games with live dealers, you’ll usually come across live poker options that feature a real dealer. These include titles like BetOn Poker, Casino Stud Poker, and Side Bet City, which is inspired by the classic card game.
Many poker players nowadays begin to play the card game in this online setting, where they can get a good feel for the way the gameplay works and the values of the different hands. Modern players need to have incredible mathematical skills to prevail in the cutthroat poker industry of the modern age, and online situations are a great way to hone those attributes. This is different to the days of Rounders, where most poker players initially learnt to play in offline scenarios. As shown in the movie, back then there was a much greater focus on the psychological side of the game as well.
Rounders featured Texas Hold’em as the only strain of poker in the film. This became the dominant form of the card offering during the poker boom; and it still is the most popular way of playing. However, many modern players also partake in different strains of poker now to improve their overall skillsets. These are all things that Dahl would need to consider if he went through with making Rounders 2.
How did Rounders Become a Cult Sensation?
There were numerous facets of Rounders that helped it become a cult sensation. One of the most obvious reasons was because, after the poker boom; many people who first got into the card game at the time decided to check it out. The film’s popularity rose dramatically throughout the 2000s as more players around the world discovered poker and wanted to experience other content related to it. The characters and scenes in the picture also provided useful tips for beginner players; and situations for more advanced players to analyze.
Rounders also featured a few of the best actors from the era. Matt Damon starred as the gifted poker player, Mike McDermott. He was one of the top up-and-coming actors in Hollywood at the time and is now a major household name. Edward Norton was also hot property at the time, having had his breakout in Primal Fear in 1996. American History X was released the same year as Rounders; and Fight Club came out in 1999. Norton played the best friend of Damon’s character and put in a memorable performance.
Aside from the two leads, Rounders also featured John Malkovich and John Turturro; both of whom played intriguing characters in the poker scene established in the picture. Rounders had everything poker fans could have hoped for. Along with some insight into how and why people play the card game; it also had some high-tension scenes with interesting gameplay.
There Have Long Been Rumors About Rounders 2
Rounders worked well as a standalone film, and there was no need to bring out a sequel at the time. However, since the online poker and casino industry has grown into the behemoth it is today it would make a lot of sense to release a new picture to appease fans of the card game. A sequel would have a much greater chance of box office success because it would allure fans of the original along with the masses that have discovered poker over the last 20 years.
After the poker boom, rumors about a sequel to Rounders started to emerge. Many poker lovers and fans of the original were desperate to see more; and this led to Damon to address these requests in interviews. Back in 2009, Damon claimed that everyone would come back for Rounders 2; meaning that all the actors involved were keen to revisit it. However, more recently, the 52-year-old quashed people’s hopes by saying that the film probably won’t happen. He claimed that Netflix wasn’t interested in bringing it to the streaming service and speculated that no other platform would be either.
It’s a shame that nobody has decided to make Rounders 2 yet; as it could be a hit in the modern age. If it does come to fruition, Damon’s character could shown trying to adapt to the digital age of poker. He’d have to refine his methods and play other online casino games to sharpen his overall skillset.
Conclusion:
Despite it being the perfect time for Rounders 2 to drop, it appears that it won’t be happening. Never say never, though, as Damon has continuously said that he would be willing to step back into the role. The best chance it has of going ahead would be if a streaming service picked it up.
