Written by Nicole Pedersen
Five weeks after the death of Paul Newman, a plan to turn the actor's last feature film into a franchise of sorts has been launched. According to a press release received by Cinematical the 2002 nice-guy gangster flick "Road to Perdition" is being prepped for not one but TWO sequels. Both will be scripted and directed by Max Allan Collins – the man responsible for writing the DC graphic novel series upon which Sam Mendes' film was based. The sequels are not being developed by Dreamworks this time but by independent production house JPM Productions and EMO Films.

According to the press release the first sequel will be called "Road to Purgatory" (what else?) and will follow the now adult Michael Collins Jr. in his quest for revenge:

"Michael Sullivan Jr., the son of Tom Hanks' character in the original film… returns from World War II with a new determination to avenge his murdered father. His quest ultimately leads him to Frank Nitti, whom he is urged to kill on the orders of Al Capone."

The third and final (?) sequel will be called "Road to

Paradise" and will "follow Sullivan's continued plight." In other words, they haven't figured out what the third one will be about quite yet.

I have the feeling that Max Allan Collins has wanted to make these films for some time but had trouble convincing anyone to finance his plans-- until now. Collins will be dedicating "Road to Purgatory" to the memory of Paul Newman – a nice touch considering that it's thanks to the actor's legacy that we are even talking about sequels.

Wonder where the "Road to Limbo" fits in here.