Film news: Celebrated filmmaker Guy Ritchie to direct dynamic ‘Road House’ sequel
Renowned and celebrated British director and filmmaking icon, Guy Ritchie, has taken over the reins from Doug Liman and will direct what is expected to be a dynamic Road House sequel.
The Jake Gyllenhaal-led sequel will see himself and Ritchie aligning yet again for filmic success, with Amazon MGM Studios set to continue on after the remake’s first installment.
Film News Blitz’s Aidan Leo explores the details pertaining to Amazon’s drafting in of previous collaborator, Guy Ritchie for the Road House sequel.
Ritchie, Road House and Amazon
As it pertains to Ritchie, Gyllenhaal and Amazon, the trio previously collaborated on Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant (2023).
The Road House sequel constitutes the third collaboration between Gyllenhaal and Ritchie.
Although the initial feature received plenty of praise and streaming success from its ‘straight to streaming’ approach, which premiered on Prime Video, it is reported to be the reason for the public fallout between Liman and Amazon.
Liman claims the studio guaranteed a theatrical release, but failed to deliver on that guarantee.
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However, bringing in Ritchie along for the ride makes the anticipation for the sequel even more appetizing.
Gyllenhaal is set to reprise his role as Elwood Dalton, the volatile ex-UFC fighter trying to build a life outside of the cage as a bouncer.
Set to double down as a co-producer, Gyllenhaal joins Josh McLaughlin by way of the pair’s Nine Stories Productions, accompanied by Atlas Entertainment’s Charles Roven and Alex Gartner.
With plot details still undisclosed as of now, there is a possibility of a return of Conor Mcgregor’s rough-rider and rebellious risk-taker, Knox.
What does Ritchie’s directing style mean for the sequel?
Expect a match made in heaven as Ritchie’s historically vivid shooting and editing techniques are particularly suitable to the unruly and frantic nature of the Road House universe, conceptually and as a film.
Ritchie’s ‘underground’, abrasive approach to his storytelling as seen in his iconic projects such as Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, fits the sequel like a glove.
His fast-paced fight scenes and high-octane chain of events storytelling will notably come in handy.
Having worked with plenty of Hollywood’s charismatic and compelling leads in Jason Statham, Brad Pitt, Tom Hardy and of course, Gyllenhaal himself.
He indeed knows how to portray his leading-man as powerful, bold and someone the viewer can root for.
As is evident in the films I mentioned, Ritchie just has an innate knack of mixing in humorous moments in what would generally be considered serious situations.
That would certainly be a refreshing take on the story that the remake’s sequel needs.
Brace yourself for a sparkling sequel
With the action-packed sequel set to expand more on the world that exists within Road House, we are likely to be subjected to more emotional complexity and character depth.
The sequel is not expected to divert too far from the remake’s first chapter so you can no doubt expect riveting action sequences, re-emerging characters and narrative developments with plenty of undertones of ‘Guy Ritchie fingerprints’.
You do not want to miss this explosive, gripping next installment.
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