Jake Gyllenhaal to star in the remake of this classic Patrick Swayze film

Virgin Radio

3 Aug 2022, 09:50

Prime Video has confirmed Jake Gyllenhaal will star in a remake of one of Patrick Swayze’s iconic 80s films - Road House. 

The 1989 classic stars Swayze as Dalton, who is lured from his job as a bouncer in New York to work as a ‘cooler’ at a roadside bar in Missouri. Life at the bar is anything but easy as he then helps to protect the small town from a corrupt businessman. It’s understood Gyllenhaal lead the reboot in a similar role. 

Amazon Studios Head Jennifer Salke said in a statement (via Variety): “Road House is a homerun for us. Not only is it a nod to fans of the original, but it is also a big, fun, broad audience movie.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Joel, Doug, and this great cast led by Jake Gyllenhaal, and for them to come together to reimagine the classic MGM film as an action-packed adventure for our global audience.”

Edge Of Tomorrow director Doug Liman will helm the new drama alongside the original producer, Joel Silver.

Liman added: “I’m thrilled to put my own spin on the beloved Road House legacy. I can’t wait to show audiences what Jake and I are going to do with this iconic role.”

According to Prime Video, this new version of Road House will see Gyllenhaal as an ex-UFC fighter who gets hired as a bouncer at a “rough and tumble roadhouse” in the Florida Keys, but soon discovers that “not everything is as it seems in this tropical paradise.” 

According to Variety, the action film will go into production in the Dominican Republic later this month, with the likes of Billy Magnussen, Lukas Gage and Daniela Melchior rounding out the cast.

Despite becoming one of Swayze’s most memorable 80s roles, the film was originally given mixed-reviews on release, and made $61 million at the box office. 

Becoming something of a cult classic, Road House found life in the home-video market and streaming, grossing another £203million in VHS, and then DVD, Blu-ray and streaming service sales. 

Before jetting off to the sunny climes of the Dominican Republic, Gyllenhaal will lend his voice for Disney’s next animated movie - Strange World, which will feature the company’s first gay teen romance.