It looks like Guy Ritchie won’t be directing the sequel to “Road House” after all. Amazon/MGM has now been left scrambling for a replacement as production is due to begin eight weeks from now.
Multiple sources tell Deadline that Ritchie has stepped away from directing “Road House 2,”the follow-up to the 2024 Jake Gyllenhaal-led remake that stunned Prime Video with over 50M viewers in its debut stretch. The film was a streaming juggernaut, one of the biggest in Amazon/MGM’s short history.
No official reason has been given for Ritchie’s departure, though it’s worth noting the director is juggling several high-profile projects. Amazon is now actively searching for a replacement to keep the sequel on track for its planned fall 2025 shoot.
Despite the sudden vacancy behind the camera, insiders stress that “Road House 2” remains a “top priority” for the studio. Casting is still underway, and Jake Gyllenhaal is locked in to reprise his role as Dalton, the ex-UFC fighter turned barroom enforcer. Will Beall (“Bad Boys: Ride or Die”) penned the sequel script, which is still under wraps.
Dave Bautista, who has been riding high with “Dune” and “Guardians of the Galaxy,” is reportedly circling a key role in the sequel, though nothing is confirmed yet.
As for Ritchie, the British filmmaker has plenty to fall back on. He’s released six films in the last five years. He has two films already in the can (“Wife & Dog,” and “In the Grey)”, and that’s not to mention the Paramount+ series “Mobland,” which just started streaming.
Of course, we all know the rule: take these reactions with a grain of salt rather than treating them as gospel. Still, I will say that the film tested like gangbusters earlier this year, and Lionsgate clearly has confidence.