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Jake Gyllenhaal’s remake of the 1989 Patrick Swayze film,Road House, is about to premiere at the SXSW film festival. In a controversial turn of events, director Doug Liman will not attend the film’s premiere at the festival. Liman’s absence will be a silent protest against Amazon’s decision to stream the film on their platform exclusively. The director revealed he was promised a big screen release when he signed up for the film.
The original 1989 film explores Swayze’s James Dalton, a bouncer, hired to protect a newly refurbished bar in one of the problematic towns. The movie was panned by the critics, but audiences found it fun to watch, especially after its release in the home media.
Also Read:Maybe Not at UFC 300 But Fans Can Watch Conor McGregor Fight Again as He Faces Jake Gyllenhaal in Road House Remake
Jake Gyllenhaal’sRoad HouseDirector Speaks Out Against Amazon
In a Deadline article, directorDoug Limancalled out Amazon’s decision to deny his film,Road House, a theatrical release. Liman is famously known for directing films likeMr. & Mrs. SmithandEdge of Tomorrow. He’s also set to team up withTom Cruiseonce again for an upcoming space movie. However, he’s not happy with the state of his latest collaboration withJake Gyllenhaal.
Liman revealed that when Amazon bought MGM, one of the biggest studios making big-budget commercial films, their announced goal was“the largest commitment to cinemas by an internet company.”Liman signed up for the film with MGM before the Amazon deal, and he was promised a theatrical release. When Amazon came into the picture, they also promised Liman,“Make a great film and we will see what happens.”
Liman shared that Amazon’s verdict for his final product was a“smash hit.”He added that the film had a higher test score than his biggest box office hit,Mr. & Mrs. Smith.It was also higher thanBourne Identity, which went on to become a major franchise. The film’s ties to the UFC and the movie debut of UFC starConor McGregorboosted the marketing of the film. But Liman stated that none of this was enough to convince Amazon for a theatrical release.
Liman accused Amazon of betraying his trust. He added that the streaming platform was also betraying the trust of the film community, as they had promised to support cinema. Liman wrote in hisDeadlinearticle:
“Amazon asked me and the film community to trust them and their public statements about supporting cinemas, and then they turned around and are using Road House to sell plumbing fixtures.”
Liman further went on to explain the impact of this move on Jake Gyllenhaal, who will be snubbed of a deserved recognition in the awards season. He also added that the financial motives of the studio would be detrimental to the future of the film business.
Also Read:Jake Gyllenhaal’s Doomed Lord of the Rings Audition May Be the Lowest Point of His Career: “It was just like finding the ring”
Jake Gyllenhaal’sRoad HouseWas Initially Intended To Help Revive MGM
Road Housewas one of the planned projects on the slate of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios after they emerged from bankruptcy in the early 2010s. The plan was to ride on the success of the original film, which was running successfully in the home media years later. However, the initial plan was to gender-swapPatrick Swayze‘s character and cast UFC fighterRonda Rouseyin the lead role.
Rouseyreportedlyreached out to Swayze’s widow, Lisa Niemi, for blessings before preparing for the role.Varietyreported thatThe NotebookdirectorNick Cassaveteswas attached to write and direct the film. However, sources later suggested that the Ronda Rousey-led plans for the film were dropped by the studio.
Also Read:Jake Gyllenhaal Turned Down a Major DCU Role in James Gunn’s Movie Before Becoming Mysterio in Spider-Man Franchise
Jake Gyllenhaal and Doug Liman joined the project in 2021, according toVariety. The official greenlight for the film came only after Amazon’s acquisition of MGM Studios. Gyllenhaal’sRoad Houseis set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on June 11, 2025, while Swayze’s film is now available for streaming on Max.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3017
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
