Internationally recognised art and literary critic, writer and cultural producer. Published in ELLE, Glamour, Esquire and Cosmopolitan; member of the Union of Writers.
Jake Gyllenhaal is no stranger to transforming his body for a role. The Oscar-nominated actor has bulked up, slimmed down, and shaved his head for various characters, from a boxer in “Southpaw” to a journalist in “Nightcrawler”. But his latest physical makeover might be his most impressive yet.
Gyllenhaal is set to star in a remake of “Road House”, the cult classic action film that made Patrick Swayze a household name in 1989. The film follows a former UFC fighter who takes a job as a bouncer at a rough-and-tumble roadhouse in the Florida Keys, but soon discovers that not everything is what it seems in this tropical paradise.
The first look at the remake, which will stream on Amazon Prime Video, shows Gyllenhaal in a tight white tank top, flaunting his muscular arms and chest, as he stands in front of a neon sign that reads “Road House”. His hair is slicked back, his face is stubbled, and his eyes are intense. He looks ready to kick some ass.
The image, which was shared by the film’s director Doug Liman on Instagram, has already generated over 100,000 likes and thousands of comments from fans and celebrities alike. Some of the reactions include:
“Holy smokes 🔥” – Reese Witherspoon
“Wow wow wow 😍” – Jessica Chastain
“I’m in” – Ryan Reynolds
“Can’t wait to see this!!!” – Dwayne Johnson
“You look amazing brother” – Hugh Jackman
Liman, who is best known for directing action thrillers like “The Bourne Identity” and “Edge of Tomorrow”, said he was thrilled to put his own spin on the beloved “Road House” legacy. “And I can’t wait to show audiences what Jake and I are going to do with this iconic role,” he added.
The remake, which is produced by Joel Silver, the original producer of “Road House”, is described as “a reimagined take” on the 1989 film, which starred Swayze as James Dalton, a legendary bouncer who is hired to clean up a notorious bar called the Double Deuce. Along the way, he falls in love with a local doctor, played by Kelly Lynch, and clashes with a ruthless businessman, played by Ben Gazzara, who wants to take over the town.
The original film, which was directed by Rowdy Herrington, was a modest hit at the box office, grossing $30 million on a $15 million budget. But it became a cult phenomenon over the years, thanks to its memorable lines, such as “Pain don’t hurt” and “Be nice until it’s time to not be nice”, its cheesy romance, its brutal fight scenes, and its charismatic star.
Swayze, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2009, was praised for his performance as Dalton, a role that showcased his martial arts skills, his dancing abilities, and his sex appeal. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in “Dirty Dancing” in 1987, and won the award for his role in “Ghost” in 1990. He is widely regarded as one of the most iconic actors of his generation.
Gyllenhaal, who has been nominated for an Oscar for his role in “Brokeback Mountain” in 2005, and has starred in critically acclaimed films like “Donnie Darko”, “Zodiac”, “Prisoners”, and “Nocturnal Animals”, said he was honored to take on the role of Dalton. “Patrick Swayze was a legend and an inspiration to me and many others. I hope to do justice to his legacy and his spirit,” he said.
The remake also stars Billy Magnussen, Daniela Melchior, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Lukas Gage, and others. It is set to go into production in the Dominican Republic this month. It will be one of the many projects that Gyllenhaal has lined up for the next year, including the Netflix thriller “The Guilty”, the HBO series “The Son”, and the Broadway musical “Sunday in the Park with George”.
“Road House” is expected to be released on Amazon Prime Video in 2024. It will be a must-watch for fans of action, romance, and nostalgia. And of course, for fans of Jake Gyllenhaal’s abs.
