Dalton said, “Give me the biggest guy in the world, you smash his knee and he’ll drop like a stone.” Metaphorically speaking, theRoad Housecharacter’s words compare with a troubling matter involving actorJake Gyllenhaal’sremake of Patrick Swayze’s 1989 film of the same name. Producer Joel Silver originally intended Gyllenhaal’sRoad Houseto receive a major, theatrical release. But, suddenly, the reimagining is heading for streaming instead amid controversy and chaos.
According toVariety, theRoad Houseremake “will likely” be released on streaming via “Amazon’s MGM label.” Judging from the report, Gyllenhaal’sRoad Houseseems destined for MGM+ rather than Prime Video, but it could certainly show up on both. The move to releaseRoad Houseon streaming rather than in theaters comes after Silver was fired by Amazon for allegedly “berating” the Head of Theatrical and Streaming Film for Amazon, Courtenay Valenti. Joel is also accused by unnamed sources of having verbally abused the head of marketing for MGM and Amazon Studios, Sue Kroll. Silver’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, went on the record saying:
“As Amazon readily admits, Joel Silver completed all of his services onRoad Houseand was not relieved of his duties, terminated or fired from his services on Road House. He finished the film and did an excellent job. With respect to ‘Play Dirty,’ as agreed to by Amazon, Joel was in no way terminated with or for cause on that picture. None of this is in dispute. To say he was fired is irresponsible and defamatory.”
Related:Road House Remake: Plot, Cast, and Everything Else We Know
Joel Silver produced the originalRoad Housein 1989, and his professional resume is as impressive as they come in Hollywood. And despite being fired by Amazon, and the alleged verbal abuse, the producer of such hits asLethal Weapon, Die Hard, The Matrixand so many other A-list projects will still receive credit for his work on the Jake Gyllenhaal-ledRoad Houseremake. The two films Amazon fired Silver from are the aforementionedRoad Houseand Mark Wahlberg’sPlay Dirty. According to the same report by Variety, an unnamed source confirmed the matter by saying:
[Silver] fulfilled his obligations on ‘Road House’ and he will not be working on ‘Play Dirty.'
It was also reported that a known associate of Silver’s, Anthony Pellicano, insisted that the producer’s exit from Amazon was “amicable,” rather than Silver being fired for the verbal abuse of Sue Kroll and Courtenay Valenti. Pellicano also said:
He [Silver] was not fired. There were just disagreements with creative concerns.
TheRoad Houseremake finds a former UFC fighter (Gyllenhaal) working as security in a bar, much like the way Patrick Swayze’s Dalton became the Cooler for The Double Deuce in the original film. Until the film drops on streaming, fans can whet their appetites withphotos ofRoad House’sGyllenhaal and Conor McGregorfrom the set right now.
