Like all business-related alliances between companies, the newly announced team-up between Miramax and the Weinstein Company feels like it was the result of mutual necessity, with God knows how many contracts and back-room meetings necessary to sort it all out. But if you cut through all of the nitty-gritty details, it means one big thing: sequels, prequels and TV adaptations of the most famous films from Miramax's heyday are likely on the way.

For those who don't know, mega-producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein used to run Miramax, but eventually split from the production company named after their mother and father to create the Weinstein Company. So them forging an alliance with their old company is a big deal, especially since their main intention is to revitalize some of the biggest titles in their catalog. What that really means is that Miramax will soon revisit its glory days of the late '90s and early '00s, when they regularly dominated the Oscar race.

According to Deadline, the first projects in the works are sequels to 1998's Best Picture Oscar winner 'Shakespeare in Love' and the Matt Damon/Edward Norton poker drama 'Rounders.' Since the deal also applies to television, small-screen adaptations of 'Good Will Hunting' and 'Flirting With Disaster' are likely forthcoming. Since the deal also includes stage adaptations, we fully expect to be hearing about the Broadway musical version of 'The English Patient' any day now.

In all seriousness, we're of mixed minds about this development. We love many of the movies and characters that Miramax helped create, but so many of them feel just plain wrong for the sequel treatment. What more could a 'Shakespeare in Love' sequel say that the original didn't? A 'Rounders' follow-up makes more sense since they could just send Damon and Norton on another poker adventure, but is anyone in the real world really chomping at the bit for a sequel? The TV takes on 'Good Will Hunting' and 'Flirting With Disaster' could be promising in the right hands, but both felt like they said everything they needed to say already.

Of course, all of this could just fall apart and none of these productions could get off the ground (because this is Hollywood we're talking about). In the meantime, grit your teeth and get ready for 'Shakespeare is Still in Love' or whatever is in the pipeline. We'll try to remain as optimistic as we can.

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