Plans for a television sequel to RMPM (1976) were in the works as early as 1975, when RMPM was still in development.
RMPM novelist Irwin Shaw offered potential characters and plot lines when RMPM- Book II was in development, but while the producers said the suggestions would make a great novel, they didn't believe his ideas would work for television.
Susan Blakely agreed to play the character of Julie Prescott in the series premiere of RMPM- Book II, but wanted to concentrate on motion pictures and declined the chance to continue in the series.
In an "Author's Note" preface to his sequel to RMPM, "Beggarman, Thief," novelist Irwin Shaw told readers that "Beggarman, Thief" was a sequel to the printed version of RMPM, not the two television series produced for ABC. Beggarman, Thief (1979) was itself later adapted for television.
Originally aired in a 2-hour time slot, the 2010 DVD version splits the chapter into two, one hour programs with the same opening and closing credits.