Three decades after Edward Burns first broke out with the Sundance hit “The Brothers McMullen,” the McMullen family returns to the big screen in the long-awaited follow-up “The Family McMullen.” Arriving on October 15 for one day only, the film revisits old characters and introduces a new generation navigating love, heartbreak, and the complicated bonds of Irish-American family life.
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Written and directed by Burns, “The Family McMullen” centers on Barry McMullen (Burns), now in his fifties, whose romantic entanglements mirror those of his twenty-something children. Joining him are his brother, Patrick (reprised by Michael McGlone), and his widowed sister-in-law, Molly (played by Connie Britton), both grappling with their own unexpected challenges in love. Like its predecessor, the film aims to mix humor, warmth, and cultural specificity, updated for the complexities of a new era.
The ensemble cast expands beyond the original trio. In addition to Britton, Burns, and McGlone reprising their roles, the lineup includes Tracee Ellis Ross (“American Fiction,” “Black-ish”), Halston Sage (“X-Men: Dark Phoenix,” “Prodigal Son”), Juliana Canfield (“Succession”), Pico Alexander (“Home Again,” “Gossip Girl”), and Brian d’Arcy James (“Spotlight”). Collectively, the cast brings Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG Award recognition to a film rooted in Burns’ indie sensibilities.
Produced by Ellen H. Schwartz, Aaron Lubin, and Burns, with executive production by Claudine Marrotte, “The Family McMullen” reunites Burns with longtime collaborators behind the camera: cinematographer William Rexer, production designer Sam Bader, editor Janet Gaynor, and composer Séamus Egan.
Billed as a Marlboro Road Gang Production, the film arrives via Warner Bros. Pictures and Fathom Entertainment, positioning it as both an indie homecoming and a studio-backed event. Burns’ career has long oscillated between intimate family comedies and larger Hollywood productions, but “The Family McMullen” promises to recapture the low-budget heart that made his debut a breakout 30 years ago.
“The Family McMullen” opens in theaters for one day only, October 15, 2025. Watch the trailer below.
