Patrick Swayze fans took to social media to slam the upcoming Road House reboot starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
On Thursday, Prime Video released a trailer for the remake. The remake was billed as an “adrenaline-filled reimagining of the '80s cult classic” starring the late Swayze. In the 2024 version, Gyllenhaal, 43, will play former UFC fighter Elwood Dalton. He “takes a job as a bouncer at a roadhouse in the Florida Keys, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems.”
Fans of Swayze, who played professional “cooler” James Dalton in the original film, voiced their disapproval on X (formerly Twitter). Social media Users declared they would boycott the new version.
“There's only one cooler? It's Patrick Swayze,” one fan wrote. Another added: “Roadhouse remake? There's only one Dalton, go Hollywood!”
Jake Gyllenhaal on Patrick Swayze's 'Roadhouse' remake: 'Big shoes to fill'
Patrick Swayze fans have slammed the Roadhouse reboot starring Jake Gyllenhaal. (Laura Radford/Amazon Prime Video/Alamy)
“This blasphemy is understandably upside down. Can't you guys come up with a single original idea?” one fan fumed.
“I don't watch it. I love the original 'Roadhouse' movie. Patrick Swayze shouldn't be messed with,” another user on X wrote.
One fan added: “This is so bad why remake it?”
Another wrote, “No one asked for a remake of 'Road House.'”
“Didn't Hollywood learn from the Point Break remake?” another user asked. “Who decided to remake 'Roadhouse'? This is an abomination. Stay away from Patrick Swayze movies…”
The late actor played the lead role in the classic 1989 action film. (Alamy)
One fan commented: “I want to say something very negative about this 'Road House' remake, but Patrick Swayze gave me some good life advice: “Be kind.'' .
Another X user said, “I was pretty interested in this movie until the trailer came out. Same scenes, same dialogue, same logo. JG is good, but Swayze will always be Dalton. Might work well as a standalone movie. “It might work, but it won't work as a 'roadhouse.'”
Some fans are excited to see Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnussen, Jessica Williams, Joaquin de Almeida, Lucas Gage, Arturo Castro, BK Cannon, Beau Knapp, Darren Barnett, and his mixed martial arts debut as an actor. Conor McGregor has also expressed his excitement for the remake.
One X user wrote, “What the hell, why does this look so good,” while another added, “This looks so good. Gyllenhaal looks great as always.”
One fan enthused, “I'm so excited about the 'Roadhouse' remake! I can't wait to see it.”
In the original “Roadhouse,” Swayze's character was hired as a security guard at the Double Deuce, “the meanest, loudest, most rowdy bar south of the Mason-Dixon line.” The film also starred Sam Elliott, Kelly Lynch, and Ben Gazzara.
Gyllenhaal will star in the reboot, which will premiere on March 21st on Prime Video. (Laura Radford © Amazon Content Services LLC)
Although “Roadhouse'' was a box office disappointment, it was a success on home video and gained a cult following.
The action-packed trailer for the reboot features fist fights, a speedboat chase, and multiple clashes between Gyllenhaal and McGregor, with McGregor delivering a brutal headbutt in one scene.
Like what you’re reading? Click here for more entertainment news
It's not just disapproving fans who are boycotting the remake. On Wednesday, the film's director, Doug Liman, announced that he would not be attending the “Road House'' premiere at SXSW in March.
Mixed martial artist Conor McGregor will make his acting debut in the remake. (Laura Radford © Amazon Content Services LLC)
In a guest column for Deadline, Lehman explained that he was absent from the event in protest of Amazon/MGM Studios' decision not to release the film in theaters.
“When Roadhouse opens the SXSW Film Festival, I won't be there,” he wrote in part. “This movie is great and probably my best work. It's going to be a big hit and the end credits will probably have people dancing in their seats, but I'm not going to be a part of it.”
Click here to sign up for our entertainment newsletter
“My plan was to quietly protest Amazon's decision to stream a movie that was clearly made for the big screen,” he added. “But it's not just me and my movies that Amazon is hurting. If I don't speak up about Amazon, who will?”
Director Doug Liman announced he would boycott the film's premiere following Amazon's decision not to release the film in theaters. (Amazon Prime Video)
Lehman wrote in his column that the film was signed on to be released theatrically, but that it was only decided to make its streaming-only debut after Amazon acquired MGM. He expressed regret that actors and films would be excluded from the awards, warning that the move could “shape the industry for decades to come”.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“If we don't show big-hit movies in theaters, there will be no movie theaters in the future,” he added.
“Roadhouse” will begin streaming on Prime Video from March 21st.
