Now 57, Burns was just a young production assistant at Entertainment Tonight when Robert Redford visited to promote Quiz Show. Breaking the protocols, Burns boldly approached him and asked the influential supporter of American independent movies if he would read a script he had written. Redford agreed and it was a moment that changed everything.
With encouragement, Burns managed to finance, direct, produce, and act in The Brothers McMullen. Filmed in his Valley Stream, with financial support from his father, a police officer, and a cast willing to work for free, the movie drew deeply from his Irish Catholic upbringing. Redford later brought the project to Sundance, where it won the Grand Prize and gained a distribution deal that pushed project to an impressive $19.3 million worldwide box office.
Why a Sequel Took So Long
Burns acknowledged that the follow-up simply wasn’t possible earlier.
In a Zoom interview, he described:
“I started to work on a script but, quite honestly, I couldn’t crack it. I didn’t know what to do with those characters.”
Everything changed years later when he came across an article about young adults returning to their parents’ homes in regard to elevating housing costs.That discovery fueled the plot foundation he required. He stated:
“I read an article about how many 20somethings were moving back in with their parents because of the shortage of affordable housing and living rent free so they could buy their first homes. I thought, maybe that’s something I can work with as the ‘McMullen’ sequel. I wanted Connie Britton back. So, I made her a widow, to give her a bigger part.”
Once the script was completed, the studio responded rapidly:
“Fortunately for me, when the script was done, I took it to Warner Brothers HBO Max and they said, ‘Yes.’ ”
Themes of Time, Change, and Family
Both McMullen movies open and close on Thanksgiving — a deliberate emotional anchor.
Burns described his choice:
“I like the idea of this disjointed family coming back together.”
He also wanted to mention how much life can change across three decades. Reflecting on the original movie, he said:
“When I wrote ‘Brothers McMullen’ I was 23 years old, a kid. That film ends with a very idealistic look at relationships and love. Connie’s Molly forgives Jack for his infidelities — and it ends on a kiss.”
This time, Burns envisioned a more realistic evolution:
“It was all very romantic. I knew when I cracked this story open again, I didn’t want any of those relationships to have survived. These characters all end up in a place where, with fractured families and all so much older, they’re alone.”
Yet the sequel still concentrates on hope and reconciliation.
Burns further said:
“Then I like the idea for it to be a feel good movie that celebrates the importance of family, togetherness and forgiveness. The first ended on an idealistic high note. I wanted this to be a family that figured things out. Everything’s all right.”
The Family McMullen premieres Dec. 5 on HBO Max.
FAQs:
1. What is The Family McMullen about?
It is a sequel that revisits the McMullen family decades after the original movie. The narrative follows their struggles, reunions, and emotional growth.
2. Do viewers need to watch The Brothers McMullen first?
No, the sequel stands on its own, but watching the original adds context. It helps audience understand the characters’ early lives and relationships.