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Nolan's 'Inception' Passes $100M In 7 Days 
Universal has started the wheels moving on a sequel to the 1988 classic comedy Midnight Run.
The studio has hired Tim Dowling to write the comedy, with Robert De Niro reprising his role as Los Angeles-based bounty hunter Jack Walsh, the former Chicago cop who hunts the turncoat mob accountant played by Charles Grodin in time to collect a $100,000 fee. George Gallo wrote the original. 
The film is being produced by De Niro and his Tribeca Productions partner Jane Rosenthal. It first came up when Deadline Hollywood revealed that the sequel was one of the films that WME had booked for De Niro before he returned to CAA.
No word on the plot, but Walsh will chase a new fugitive. Charles Grodin, who retired from acting to become a broadcast journalist, won’t return. Dowling’s script work included Role Models and Just Go With It, the Sony comedy that stars Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston and Nicole Kidman.
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Great news. Nice way to start the weekend. Really enjoyed Midnight Run. Sorry to hear Grodin won’t be in the next one (but I’ve been enjoying his common sense rants on public radio). Hope the next one is as good as the first, or at least close.
Not having Grodin in the sequel would be like not having Danny Glover in a sequel to Lethal Weapon.
Not a movie.
No Charles Grodin? Lame.
I always loved Grodin’s screen presence and personality. Not including him in the sequel is a big mistake that I’d like to see him comedically shout someone down over.
Lemme guess, this time the fugitive will be a sexy dame on the run from vaguely Eastern European gangsters and an overly ambitious FBI agent.
I liked Midnight Run, but I don’t think it’s classic enough to justify a sequel 22 years after the fact.
Although I really like De Nero, I have to agree with ‘Furious D’.
It’s not really so “outstanding” as to rate a sequel. Unless Tim Dowling just needs the work and Universal owes him a favor, or something.
If they don’t get the fabulous Charles Grodin, let’s hope they don’t go after Billy Crystal (GROAN) and instead try for Steve Carrell or Ricky Gervais.
Or Ben Stiller or Philip Seymour Hoffman. If female, Tina Fey, Julia Roberts or the like. However replaces Grodin’s spot has big shoes to fill. The banter between De Niro and Grodin in the original was great.
Oh, yeah, Stiller – because he and De Niro are comedy magic on film.
Please, please, please – SOMEBODY, get Stiller back to TV sketch comedy and keep him there.
Watching De Niro and Gervais play off of each other might redeem this.
If there’s no Grodin, don’t bother.
TOTALLY AGREE. the original is ONLY funny because of Grodin.
Dowling better lace his script with as many F-bombs as Gallo’s terrific script or this could be as big a dud as “U.S. Marshals.”
Tim Dowling + MIDNIGHT RUN sequel=FAIL
No Grodin, no movie.
Big D gotta eat. When the money starts drying up, all the big stars start back-tracking.
Stallone = Rambo & Rocky
Willis = Die Hard and Unbreakable
Ford = Indy 4 (and 5?)
Good luck on “1am Run” (working title), Bobby. Maybe this time you’re looking for your career.
Okay, I understand Harrison Ford and Sylvester Stallone doing unwanted sequels, but I din’t get the sense that Bruce willis and the Die Hard sequels were unwanted by fans? And what’s the connection to Unbreakable? Isn’t it a stand-alone movie?
Minor point: EVERYBODY was clamouring for “indy 4″ for over a DECADE. (Spielberg openly admits he finally gave in “cuz he was tired of being asked about it). The fans may not have liked what they got, but they DID want the character to come back.
Why isn’t George Gallo writing it?
If it’s half as good as the “action pack” sequels done for TV in the 90s… oh, that wouldn’t be good at all.
And the lack of Grodin puts this a few steps behind from the get-go.
they should just make another RunDown
Midnight Run stands as one of the ’80s best films and Bobby’s best entry into the comedy genre. Given his recent track record, I’m not holding my breath, but anything’s better than another Meet the Parents.
MIDNIGHT RUN 2: Wheelchair Boogaloo
Way to screw up a great stand alone classic movie folks.
Serranno’s got the disks!
Mistake. Sad, too, because the original is so, so great. And so much of that is Grodin and Yaphet.
This new MIDNIGHT RUN will shit without Martin Brest, the orignal Producer, Director (and Writer – uncredited)…
Um, I wrote Midnight Run.
Isn’t De Niro getting a little long in the tooth for these kind of movies? They should change the title to Late Afternoon Slow Walk.
How about “Early Bird” Stroll?
Watch your cigarettes, Jack.
“Watch your cigarettes with this guy Jack.” Possibly one of the funniest lines in movies.
I LOVED the first MR. It also had a BRILLIANT turn by Dennis Farina.
DeNiro is a little old for a role like that now though. Still, if anyone can pull it off, Bobby can!
Can’t Hollywood leave well-enough alone!?! Please, no sequel.
No Grodin and no Gallo?
Seriously – it’s not a Robert DeNiro film – it requires both to be a Midnight Run – otherwise, it’s just another TV movie version starring Chris McDonald.
Ugh…Hello…it was the drama that made midnight run great and that was provided by…Yaphet Kotto…remember him? He was amaaaaaazing in MR. Watching MR you always have the feeling as though Mosley is going to shoot somebody…anybody…the way I see it the sequel needs a least 5 really good character actors that can go against type and that bobby can play off of really well. Whoever makes this film, Trust me when I say this and I know this is unusual now adays but REHEARSALS….EXTENSIVE REHEARSALS!!!
Marty Breast????????
Sorry…Marty BREST????????
Wow they really are digging out everything 80’s. “Serrano’s got the disks!”
Didn’t they make that sequel already? And it was called The Rundown. But Randy Newman’s music in Midnight Run is legendary and awesome. Hopefully they capture the heart of the first film. Love that score.
I meant the other Randy Newman. Danny Elfman.
Sigh, what’s next? The Godfather remake?
Well, if it’s going to be done, better he does it than Ben Stiller.
wow you people are unbelievably fucking idiots. what kind of self-righteous MORON would play monday morning quarterback with some like Robert De Niro? oh, gee, ‘bobby’ you should leave well-enough alone. Really? you fucking also rans should leave your keyboard alone.
Thank you.
The constant b!tchiness towards de niro is hilarious. He is, due to his vast body of works/characters, one of the greatest actors to have ever worked in film. There is not a better performance on film, in my opinion, than his raging bull.
So, yeah the man’s not done too many great films in recent years, but who has? Considering all that hollywood seems to do is make crappy films starring man-boys who can get the teen girl/boy crowds in.
Midnight Run is one of my favourite De niro films, and while the likeliness of a modern day sequel being better than the original is very low, i would happily rather watch a third rate Deniro film/performance than sit through the crap starring most of the actors of today’s generation (and i say that as a member of their generation).
“Yah-hey everyone. Yah-hey.”
Not excited by this prospect. RdN hasn’t made a good movie in a while now, and is no longer a vital actor as he’s fallen more and more in love with himself.
With nobody but Bobby returning, even though some of the talent is certainly available, it stinks of a Hollywood concoction that will likely become more and more watered down in the creative process to something generic and completely without spark. I smell a potential Shia casting.
That said, I was dubious about a new “Die Hard” movie and that was pretty good, and that last “Rambo” movie was surprisingly effective. They may be able to pull this off, but I wouldn’t wager a nine-figure budget on it.
People forget it didn’t make a dime back in ‘88 — it found it’s small cult status later on video and cable. Why would anyone think a big-screen sequel 22 YEARS LATER would work???
It made 81 million plus….which in 1988 was very good. So yeah, it made a little more than a dime…..
And not small cult status…It was very popular with the critics, and audiences, hence the large box office…..This will work if they keep it simple like the first one. And find someone , if Grodin doesnt return, to play opposite him….If they try to special effect it too much, that will sink it..
Dowling is the epitome of a hack. He’s a first draft writer at best. On Role Models, Rudd and Wain had to come in the save the script to make it decent.
How this guy gets picked to write a sequel to one of the best scripts ever made is what’s wrong with Hollywood.
Please tell me George Gallo passed. Then please tell me Richard LaGravanese also passed. Then tell me every other writer who has a clue what they are doing in this business passed before Dowling got picked.
What a mess.
I knew the guy who wrote the original.
He wrote the story on napkins at Jerry’s Deli in STudio City.
To the guy above who claimed it didn’t make a dime: is $81.6 million worldwide in 1988 dollars not good enough for you?
Don’t know Tim Dowling. Never saw Role Models. But over the years I had heard George Gallo wrote this great movie. Think they even have a plaque with his name on it at Jerry’s Deli, Studio City for this. This is a great, great movie. Saw it recently again and it holds up.
So why not just let George Gallo write the new one? Huh?
That movie is perfection. A sequel will be a disappointment.
“Relax Sidney. Have a sandwich. Do some fucking thing.”
the only way this works is if they put nicholson in there with de niro
Yes, Midnight Run, the movie where every punch landed knocks a grown man out cold for as long as the plot requires.
Still. It’s incredibly awesome.
What a shame, watching Bobby D the past few years was like watching Jordan on the Wizards.
If Grodin is not in the sequel, then it will not truly be a sequel. The chemistry between the original leading actors is what made MR one of the best comedies of all time, not to mention the directing and the writing (Mr. Gallo, wonderful job!).
The original made $81.6 million worldwide. In 1988. That’s a modest hit.
There was also some made-for-TV movies with Christopher McDonald if I recall.
No reason for a sequel though. DeNiro’s done them before (“Analyze That”, anyone?) and it rarely a good idea.
Without Charles Grodin it will be a stinker.
I guess they couldn’t lock up the film rights to Jake LaMotta’s second autobiography.
The original was good because of Grodin, not because of the highly overrated DeNiro. The new one will be a flop compared to the first. This just shows how desperate these clowns are to make a buck and keep their faces on screen. Nobody has an original thought so they keep doing remakes and sequels.
The reason why the first movie is so good is because of the script by Gallo and the performance by Grodin.
So let’s make a sequel and include neither of them!
Man.
So the premise is he’s back as a bounty hunter? Guess the coffee shop didn’t work out. Of course if I were your accountant I’d have to advise you against it (the sequel, that is).
All of you whiny “creative” types blubbering about Grodin remember this- no one else wants to see this old fossil in anything. If I was packaging this sequel. I could really make bank. Hook up Deniro with some hot YOUNG face- brains do not need to apply. I’m thinking Meet The Parents +Twilight + Scarface. Unlike you hacks, I know what the public wants because I’m workin it 24/7 baby!
Massive fan of the original since seeing it on the big screen. More worried about the lack of Brest (and Gallo) than Grodin, who was admittedly brilliant in the original film, but at 75 and in a different career space…
buddhabob – any insight into why Gallo wasn’t hired to write the sequel?
I remember reading a blurb about Matt Damon and Edward Norton doing scenes from MR between takes on that forgotten poker move they did.
Forgotten poker mov(i)e?! Are you serious? (And yes, in case you were wondering, “movie” is actually spelled with an “i”…)
But forgotten poker movie? Are you SERIOUS?! We are talking about the movie that is essentially responsible for starting a firestorm poker craze that has become its own mega-industry? That forgotten movie?
I loved Role Models, thought it was hysterical and am very excited to see what Tim Dowling can do with Midnight Run!
Its gonna be brilliant. I loved the first film, and Robert De Nero is a brilliant actor.
Midnight Run is an all time favorite. I loved Charles Grodin, but I would still be happy to watch it with another actor playing his role.
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