The behind-the-scenes drama of the 'Road House' reboot has been making waves in Hollywood. Set to launch on Amazon Prime on March 8, this highly-anticipated film has been at the center of a fierce battle between the studio and the filmmakers. From the involvement of a notorious private investigator to a director's scorched-earth tactics, the road to the film's release has been anything but smooth. Despite all the turbulence, 'Road House' is expected to be one of Amazon Prime's most-watched films this year. So, what went wrong?
It all started in November 2021 when MGM, under the leadership of Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, began negotiations with director Doug Liman and actor Jake Gyllenhaal to helm the project. They planned to bring a modern twist to the cult favorite, with Gyllenhaal portraying the tough-guy bouncer role originally played by Patrick Swayze. Joel Silver, who produced the original 'Road House' for MGM, was also on board to update the film to reflect the current era, where Gyllenhaal's character is a former UFC fighter.
At the time, MGM was primarily focused on producing movies for the big screen, and streaming platforms weren't a significant consideration. However, everything changed after Amazon completed its $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM in March 2022. As a result, the fate of 'Road House' took a different turn. In July 2022, De Luca and Abdy left MGM to run Warner Bros., and the film was put into turnaround.
Fortunately, Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke stepped in to save the project. With a talented cast that included Gyllenhaal, Billy Magnussen, Daniela Melchior, and Lukas Gage, Salke quickly greenlit the film. However, the filmmakers and Gyllenhaal had to make a crucial decision. They were given two options: either make the film for $60 million and secure a theatrical release or take $85 million and release it exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. They eventually chose the latter option, all for the sake of a bigger payday.
On August 2, 2022, Amazon made an official announcement, revealing that 'Road House' would be an Amazon Prime Video movie. Director Doug Liman and producer Joel Silver both expressed their enthusiasm for the project in the press release. However, tensions behind the scenes were starting to escalate. Silver continued to push for a theatrical release, leading to conflict with the studio. The situation became so heated that the studio threatened to sever ties with him.
This prompted Ari Emanuel, the CEO of Endeavor and WME parent company, to intervene on Silver's behalf. Emanuel, who doesn't even represent Liman, reached out to Salke, desperately trying to save Silver's position. In a surprising turn of events, Emanuel enlisted controversial private investigator-turned-consultant Anthony Pellicano to assist in the matter. The involvement of Pellicano, along with Emanuel's persistence, raised eyebrows in the industry.
Meanwhile, from the outside, things appeared to be going well for the streaming-focused release of 'Road House.' There were reports of UFC superstar Conor McGregor joining the cast, which further boosted the film's anticipation. However, these reports didn't mention the various allegations McGregor was facing at the time, including sexual assault and violence against women.
Furthermore, as tensions continued to mount, Salke made a bold move. In late 2023, she decided to remove Joel Silver from working on the 'Road House' rollout due to his verbal abuse of several staffers, including top executives at Amazon Studios and MGM. This marked a significant turning point in the troubled production. Silver's removal not only impacted 'Road House' but also led to severed ties with him on another upcoming film, 'Play Dirty,' starring Mark Wahlberg.
As news of Silver's departure spread, Pellicano assumed the unofficial role of spokesperson for the situation, claiming that it was an amicable parting with creative differences at play. However, the drama wasn't over yet. Director Doug Liman decided to go public with his grievances in an open letter on January 24. In the letter, he declared that he would boycott the film and accused Amazon of having no interest in supporting cinemas. This final salvo seemed to cement the challenges and discord that plagued the entire production.
Despite the turmoil, 'Road House' remains highly anticipated and is expected to be a big hit on Amazon Prime Video. It's a testament to the dedication and hard work of the cast and crew who put their hearts into creating a great streaming movie. While the behind-the-scenes battles may have left a sour taste for some involved, audiences will soon be able to experience the reimagined version of 'Road House' from the comfort of their own homes.
