SUMMARY
- The highly anticipated "Road House" remake featuring Conor McGregor is set for a global release later this year.
- Director Doug Liman protests against Amazon's decision to exclusively stream "Road House" on Prime Video, boycotting the SXSW premiere.
The eagerly awaited global release of the action-packed remake “Road House,” featuring Conor McGregor, is set for later this year. This modern adaptation of the 1989 cult classic has created a buzz, and Amazon Prime Video recently as of January 24, revealed the official poster, leaving fans in utter excitement.
The film has a star-studded cast of Jake Gyllenhaal, joined by Daniela Melchior, Conor McGregor, and Billy Magnussen. Joel Silver will take the responsibility of producing the film. Silver was the one who produced the original classic in 1989 as well.
The remake film will be directed by the acclaimed Doug Liman who according to McGregor feels that Road House is his best work. Scheduled to premiere on March 21, “Road House” will exclusively stream on Amazon Prime Video.
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2024 promises to be a huge year for ‘The Notorious’ as he has claimed to make his comeback too. McGregor took to social media on New Year’s Eve to announce his comeback fight. According to him, he will fight Michael Chandler on June 29, 2024.
Thus, with McGregor’s involvement in various industries, his Hollywood debut is certainly much awaited amongst fans. But recently his debut feature has come under a lot of attention due to the controversy surrounding it.
Director Doug Liman protests against Amazon by boycotting his film’s SXSW premiere
Director Doug Liman is taking a stand against Amazon by boycotting the premiere of his film, a remake of “Road House,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor. The movie is set to debut at SXSW in March, but Liman won’t be in attendance. Expressing his protest through an editorial in the Deadline, against Amazon’s decision to exclusively showcase the film on Prime Video, bypassing a theatrical release.
Liman, known for directing films like “The Bourne Identity” and “Mr and Mrs Smith,” wrote down his reasoning in a Deadline piece, emphasizing the broader implications of Amazon’s approach. Liman highlighted the contradictions between Amazon’s public statements and actions. He pointed out that when the company acquired MGM, the studio that initially greenlit his project.
It insisted on a commitment to theatrical releases. However, according to Liman, Amazon’s move to release “Road House” on Prime Video contradicts these assurances. He accused Amazon of using the film, which he believes could be one of his best works, to sell plumbing fixtures rather than supporting cinemas. The director stressed the potential success of “Road House” at the box office.
He cited high test scores and strong ties to the UFC, with marketing efforts yet to begin. Liman expressed concern that without a theatrical release, the cast and crew won’t share in the back-end profits. Further adding Gyllenhaal won’t be eligible for awards due to streaming release rules. Liman warned of the broader impact on the film industry.
He stated that if tentpole movies like “Road House” don’t hit theaters, the future of cinemas is at risk. He argued that movie theaters are essential for commercial box office hits. Which further allows studios to take risks on original movies and new directors.
Doug Liman says he is boycotting the premiere of his ‘ROAD HOUSE’ film after Amazon refused to give the film a theatrical release.
“Amazon asked me and the film community to trust them and their public statements about supporting cinemas, and then they turned around and are… pic.twitter.com/ZHvJdbVgqQ
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) January 24, 2024
Liman also referenced successful theatrical releases like Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” and “Top Gun: Maverick” to emphasize audience enthusiasm for the big-screen experience. The filmmaker concluded his statement by suggesting a potential villain in the story- Amazon’s computer algorithm.
He also speculated that Amazon may be prioritizing streaming over theaters driven by an algorithmic pursuit of more subscribers. Furthermore, Liman reminded readers of the unique experience of watching a film in a packed theater. He expressed concern that future audiences may miss out on this communal experience if Amazon’s preferences prevail.
The beginning of the situation revolves around reports from Variety, indicating that Joel Silver, the renowned Hollywood producer behind iconic films like “The Matrix” and “Sherlock Holmes,” has encountered setbacks in at least two projects.
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Specifically, he was allegedly ousted from involvement in projects featuring Mark Wahlberg and Jake Gyllenhaal due to accusations of being verbally abusive towards fellow executives. Insiders close to Silver suggest that Amazon’s actions against him stem from his resistance to the implementation of AI technology during recent industry strikes.
Consequently, the uncertainty surrounding this situation makes it challenging to ascertain the fate of the movie “Roadhouse,” featuring Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor, and whether it will secure a theatrical release.
Conor McGregor discusses his bond with Jake Gyllenhaal and the standout moments from filming ‘Road House’
In an interview about 10 months ago with MMA influencer Robbie Fox on his YouTub channel ‘My Mom’s Basement with Robbie Fox’, Conor McGregor opened up about his connection with Jake Gyllenhaal during the filming of ‘Road House’ and their newly formed close friendship.
McGregor expressed, “He’s a great guy. He’s a great, great guy. He was very patient with me, and I was very patient with him. We understood our skill set and what we brought to the table. A dear friend of mine now, Jake Gyllenhaal, is. We doing a great movie… I’m doing the best I could with what I had at my disposal.”
The Irishman, known for his accomplishments in the MMA world, praised the challenging nature of the film set. He also emphasized that the experience made everything else seem comparatively easier.
He expressed gratitude for the hardships, stating, “I did enjoy the process. It was very tough… But leaving it, doing this show, going to training camp, preparing for fights, shooting content for all these companies, everything seems so much easier.” Conor also touched upon his involvement in performing his stunts, further contributing to the physically demanding aspect of his role.
ROADHOUSE! 🍻 🎶 pic.twitter.com/gbgqhTvqPq
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 25, 2024
Therefore, as fans eagerly anticipate the Amazon Prime exclusive featuring McGregor and Gyllenhaal, the fighter-turned-actor’s insights into their friendship and the challenges of film production provide a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of ‘Road House.’