LOL: Doug Liman is Making His Own ‘Road House’ Sequel

The bad blood between Doug Liman and Amazon MGM is well-known. What began as a promising partnership on the streamer’s “Road House” remake — a slick actioner starring Jake Gyllenhaal — quickly devolved into a bitter feud.

The story goes that Liman had signed on under the impression that Amazon would give his film a full theatrical release and box-office bonuses. However, once the dust settled, Amazon abruptly shifted plans, deciding the film would premiere exclusively on Prime Video. Feeling duped, Liman publicly blasted the studio. Now, Liman is taking that fight to a whole new level.

Here’s Deadline reporting that Liman is quietly working with original screenwriter R. Lance Hill and intends to make “Road House: Dylan,” Hill’s direct sequel to the 1989 cult classic. This is what I like to call a creative coup. Liman is clearly not letting go of Amazon’s betrayal.

The last thing this world needs is two more “Road House” movies. And yet, here we are, and one very determined director has decided to bestow this fate upon us.

But wait, the story gets wilder. Hill, with legal representation, claims he has legally recaptured the rights to his original “Road House” script under Section 203 of the U.S. Copyright Act — the “35-year rule” that allows creators to reclaim works not done as “work for hire.” Amazon, predictably, disagrees. The result? A looming court showdown.

Amazon/MGM, meanwhile, isn’t standing still. Production is already underway on “Road House 2,” with director Ilya Naishuller (“Hardcore Henry”) now calling the shots. Jake Gyllenhaal is back, joined by Dave Bautista, Aldis Hodge, and Leila George.

Liman and producer Joel Silver were both burned by Amazon’s decision to go full streaming on “Road House,” resulting in a dramatic SXSW standoff that saw Liman threatening to boycott his own premiere — only to fly himself in and sit in the audience. His new move with Hill feels like an extension of that defiance. It’s obviously not just about making another “Road House.”

It’s quite clear Liman is still bitter toward Amazon, but isn’t this taking matters a tad too far? Will we end up with two competing continuations of “Road House”? I will say, this feud has the potential for the type of high entertainment “Road House” couldn’t deliver.