The creators behind “Rounders” are teaming up with Martin Scorsese on a new Netflix series. It focuses on the modern world of Las Vegas casinos.
Brian Koppelman and David Levien, who also created the Showtime drama Billions along with Rounders, will serve as showrunners on the eight-episode series. The news comes as Scorsese’s classic film, “Casino,” celebrated its 30th anniversary this year.
That film, starring Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci, focused on a mob-controlled Las Vegas of the 1960s and ’70s. The new series brings viewers to today’s Sin City and is unrelated to the 1995 film.
“The eight-episode drama is set in the high-stakes, sharp-elbowed, present-day Las Vegas casino business, which is a modernized but still dangerous version of the legendary city,” Deadline reports. “At the center of it stands Robert ‘Bobby Red’ Redman, president of the hottest hotel casino in town, who has to make some long odds moves to try and secure his position and take more ground.”
Netflix Nixed Historical Vegas Show
Koppelman and Levien will serve executive producers on the project. Others involved include their producing partner Paul Schiff; Scorsese and his Sikelia Productions; Julie and Rick Yorn with Expanded Media; and former Billions writer-producer Beth Schacter.
The project evolved from the Yorns, who brought the proposal to Netflix with Scorsese, according to Deadline. The Oscar-winning director already had some success on the streaming service with his 2019 drama The Irishman.
The producers originally planned another historical look at Las Vegas. But Netflix brought in Koppelman and Levien to develop a more modern Sin City series. Netflix has not announced a production date or release date.
A ‘Rounders’ Sequel?
The writing duo’s 1998 film, “Rounders,” remains the gold standard for poker movies for many players and fans. Star Matt Damon has hinted that a sequel could eventually be developed, and co-star Ed Norton is also reportedly interested. Damon said he’s discussed the possibility with Levien and Koppelman.
“The one we’ve been talking about for years, and we’re trying to, and I just saw Edward Norton a few weeks ago, like all of us want to do … a second Rounders movie,” Damon said on the Rich Eisen Show.
“So much has happened in the poker world in the last 25 years. It would be fun to catch up with those guys.”
