Poker players - internet and land-based alike - should be happy to hear about the upcoming feature film that is all about poker and the World Poker Tour.  Called "Deal", the film stars Burt Reynolds, Bret Harrison, and several real life poker celebrities who make appearances as themselves in the film.  Some of the poker pros in the cast include, Antonio Esfandiari, Isabel Mercier, Phil Laak and poker-playing actors Jennifer Tilly and Shannon Elizabeth, who both are regulars at the World Poker Tour Invitaional.  Also making appearances in the film are WPT hosts Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten, who call all of the poker action taking place at the WPT tables - just as they do in real life.

Although the story in "Deal" is fictional, it can be easily said to parallel true events.  Centered around an ex-poker champ (Reynolds) and a young college poker player (Harrison), the story follows the two as Reynolds schools Harrison in preparation to become a poker pro.  Little do they both know that they will end up facing each other in the final table of the World Poker Tour held in Las Vegas.

Shot just as a regular televised tournament would be, the film does an excellent job at recreating an actual WPT event.  Most of the production took place in New Orleans ("Deal" was the first independent film to be shot in the post-Katrina city), with the actual WPT set being used on the movie set.  Just as it would look in the Bellagio, the final table consisted of players who have been there before, as well as interviews by Courtney Friel, Bellagio showgirls holding mountains of cash, and Budweiser toasts to the winner.

Scott Lazar - sixth place winner in the 2005 WSOP - is a co-executive producer of the film and also has a featured role, which actually began as a cameo part.  He had wonderful things to say about the picture and thinks that poker fans - especially online poker fans and WPT enthusiasts - will be very impressed with the realism of "Deal" as well as the story line and action.  As has been seen in recent times, the story relates how Harrison's character wins a seat to the event after doing well as an online poker player....The dream that all online poker players hold on to.