Same fictional characters (with same actors) appearing in unrelated movies

Enjoyed both films but do not remember them too well and have not read the original Elmore Leonard novels. However, are you sure they were from different universes? They may well be, I just do not know. Many crime writers use the same "universe" for their stories, with the same characters popping up from time to time. When played by the same actors that is interesting, but not as oddball as the Caldicott/Charters case.