UFC Star Conor McGregor, Jake Gyllenhaal React to ‘Road House’ Streaming Boycott
'Road House' was meant for the big screen, not the small one at home.
At least, that's what director Doug Liman (Edge Of Tomorrow) had to say about the upcoming streaming release of the 1989 remake starring Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler) and former UFC Champion Conor McGregor.
The film is set to premiere at the SXSW Festival next week on Mar. 8 and will be available to watch on Amazon Prime Video, come Mar. 21.
Liman's vision for 'Road House' was that it would have a theatrical release instead of going straight to streaming like other post-pandemic movies. This didn't go his way as Amazon recently overtook MGM and in turn, Liman will sit out on his project.
"My plan had been to silently protest Amazon’s decision to stream a movie so clearly made for the big screen," Liman wrote on Deadline, citing he would not attend the 'Road House' premiere on Mar. 8.
For Jake Gyllenhaal (Elwood Dalton) and Conor McGregor (Knox), they understand their director's protest and wishes for a theatrical release, but the actors ultimately accept Amazon's decision to bypass the theaters altogether.
“I just want as many people to see it as possible,” Gyllenhaal told Total Film (h/t: Daily Caller). “And I think we’re living in a world that’s changing in how we see and watch movies, and how they’re made.
What’s clear to me, and what I loved so much, was [Liman’s] deep love for this movie, and his pride at how much he cares for it, how good he feels it is, and how much people should see it.”
McGregor, who makes his acting debut in this flick, shares his co-star's sentiment on the controversial streaming situation.
“I’ve also sat watching a film on my computer, or in different places, and been so profoundly moved,” McGregor said. “If the job of a story is to move people, I have been moved in both forms. I’m a deep lover of cinema and the theatrical release – but I also do really embrace the streaming world.”
It might take a while longer to see Conor McGregor's highly-anticipated return to the UFC as a matchup with Michael Chandler hasn't come into fruition yet. For now, we'll have to settle for the Irishman's choreographed fights against Jake Gyllenhaal.
Just don't expect to see 'Knox vs. Dalton' on the big screen.
Will you be watching 'Road House'?
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