(Left) Guy Ritchie on the set of ‘The Gentlemen.’ Photo: Kevin Baker/Netflix. Copyright: © 2023, Netflix Inc. (RIght) Jake Gyllenhaal stars in ‘Roadhouse.’ Photo: Laura Radford © Amazon Content Services LLC.
Preview:
- Guy Ritchie has agreed to direct the ‘Road House’ sequel.
- Jake Gyllenhaal will be back as Dalton.
- Amazon MGM Studios is once more backing the movie.
There is increasing evidence that filmmaker Guy Ritchie has either cracked the secret of cloning, owns one of the Time-Turners from ‘Harry Potter’ or has simply given up on the idea of sleep or seeing his family.
This is, after all, the man who directed five films in the last four years, and has three films potentially set for release this year (‘Fountain of Youth,’ ‘Wife & Dog,’ and ‘In the Grey’), and that’s before mentioning the Paramount+ series ‘MobLand,’ which recently started streaming, and ‘The Gentlemen,’ renewed for season 2 at Netflix.
And if all that wasn’t enough, he’s also taking on another assignment, as Puck and World of Reel have confirmed that Ritchie will be behind the camera for Amazon MGM’s sequel to 2024’s ‘Road House’ remake, which will once again star Jake Gyllenhaal.
What’s the story of ‘Road House’?
(L to R) Lukas Gage and Jake Gyllenhaal star in ‘Road House.’ Photo: Laura Radford. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
The 1989 original, directed by Rowdy Herrington, starred Patrick Swayze in the story of a roadside dive called The Double Deuce, a sleazy music joint in the small town of Jasper, Missouri, “the kind of place where they sweep up the eyeballs after closing”.
The owner, tired of his place being wrecked by muscle-bound “power drinkers” and provocative bimbos, hires the best bouncer in the business (Swayze’s Dalton) to cool things down. Famously, he starts off charming but doesn’t hesitate to take extreme throat-ripping measures when pushed to his limit.
For the 2024 re-invention, Gyllenhaal took on the slightly adjusted role of Dalton, this time a former UFC fighter looking to find new meaning in his life who finds work as a bouncer at a property owned by Frankie (Jessica Williams).
Conor McGregor stars in ‘Road House.’ Photo: Laura Radford. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
Anthony Bagarozzi & Charles Mondry wrote the new movie took place at a rough-and-tumble roadhouse in the Florida Keys, but “soon discovers that not everything is what it seems in this tropical paradise.”
In the cast alongside Gyllenhaal were the likes of Conor McGregor, Billy Magnussen, Daniela Melchior, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Lukas Gage, Hannah Love Lanier,Travis Van Winkle, B.K. Cannon, Arturo Castro, Dominique Columbus, Beau Knapp and Bob Menery.
Directing that one was Doug Liman, and behind-the-scenes drama, as producer Joel Silver was removed for aggressive behavior, Liman denounced the plan to release the movie direct to streaming (he’s since made peace with the idea) and a lawsuit from the writer of the original that claimed the new movie was simply a grab at keeping the IP.
Still, the movie became a big hit for Amazon, drawing 2.3 million households between March 21st, which is when it was added to the Prime Video library, and March 24th.
What of the sequel?
(L to R) Conor McGregor and Jake Gyllenhaal stars in ‘Roadhouse.’ Photo: Laura Radford © Amazon Content Services LLC.
At Amazon’s Upfront presentation last May –– where it promotes its upcoming movies and shows to advertisers to encourage them to purchase pricey spots on its service –– the company announced that a ‘Road House’ sequel was in the early stages of development.
This is what Amazon film boss Jennifer Salke said at the event:
“As we saw this spring the world went crazy for a little movie called ‘Road House’. Nearly 80 million viewers globally have watched ‘Road House.’ We like to watch this these results like a baby.”
Ritchie certainly feels like the right person to handle this, as he’s used to tough-guy movies that have a little more going on under the surface.
And he and Gyllenhaal have a prior working relationship –– the actor starred in the director’s 2023 war movie ‘The Covenant’ and they’ve reunited for this year’s ‘In the Grey,’ which sees two extraction specialists having to chart a route of escape for a senior female negotiator.
Actor Jake Gyllenhaal (left) and director Guy Ritchie (right) on the set of ‘The Covenant,’ a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Christopher Raphael / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures.
Given the subject matter and the established connection between director and star, hopes are likely high that things will go much more smoothly this time around.
Will Beall is at work on the script for the sequel, which is a mystery for now –– though a mid-credits scene in the 2024 movie showed Conor McGregor’s villain Knox wreaking havoc at a hospital and escaping unscathed, so presumably that rematch is something that could well be picked up for the new movie.
As for other cast members? No word yet on returning veterans or newcomers.
Related Article: ‘Road House’ Sequel in Development with Jake Gyllenhaal Back
When will the ‘Road House’ sequel be on screens?
(L to R) Jake Gyllenhaal and Lukas Gage star in ‘Road House.’ Photo: Laura Radford. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
There is no information yet as to a release date for the new movie.
But perhaps the more interesting question is, where will the ‘Road House’ movie be on screens? Given the success of the 2024 outing, there’s a big chance that Amazon could decide that the best place for a follow-up is to premiere right alongside it on the Prime Video streaming service.
But with the company’s much-vaunted commitment to theatrical releases, as touted during its CinemaCon presentation last week, perhaps having a Gyllenhaal movie in cinemas is no bad strategy –– especially if it drives people to then check out the movie on streaming. We’ve a feeling, though, that it’ll be the former option.
Jake Gyllenhaal stars in ‘Road House.’ Photo: Laura Radford. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
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