Thirty years after Edward Burns’ breakout indie “The Brothers McMullen” helped redefine American independent cinema, the McMullen clan is back. “The Family McMullen,” written, directed, and produced by Burns, debuts on December 5 on HBO Max, marking a full-circle moment for the filmmaker who first captured the complicated romantic and familial lives of three Irish-American brothers from Long Island in 1995.
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The new film revisits the McMullens decades later, following a now 50-something Barry McMullen (Burns) as he navigates the messy middle act of life alongside his 20-something kids. His brother, Patrick (Michael McGlone), and his widowed sister-in-law, Molly (Connie Britton), face their own emotional and romantic crossroads, as old patterns resurface and new generations stumble into familiar mistakes. The sequel promises to strike a balance between sharp humor, warmth, and melancholy — the same blend that made the original a Sundance sensation and a touchstone for indie filmmakers everywhere.
The ensemble also includes Tracee Ellis Ross, Halston Sage, Juliana Canfield, Pico Alexander, and Brian d’Arcy James, rounding out a multigenerational cast that reflects how the McMullens—and Burns himself—have evolved over time. Shot through with lived-in realism and Irish-American banter, the film looks poised to extend the story’s legacy with the intimacy and emotional precision that defined Burns’ early work.
Behind the camera, Burns collaborates again with longtime creative partners: producer Ellen H. Schwartz, cinematographer William Rexer, and composer Séamus Egan, whose music helped give the first film its wistful rhythm.
“The Brothers McMullen” — which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance before launching Burns’ career — is currently available to stream on HBO Max, giving audiences a chance to reconnect before “The Family McMullen” arrives December 5.
