Gyllenhaal’s Bouncer Returns

Jake Gyllenhaal is set to return as Elwood Dalton in a sequel to Road House, and this time, he’ll be teaming up with director Guy Ritchie. The sequel follows the surprise success of the 2024 reboot, which became Prime Video’s most-watched original film, racking up more than 50 million viewers in its first two weekends.

Ritchie steps in to direct the follow-up, replacing Doug Liman, who helmed the first film. Known for his work on The Gentlemen for Netflix and MobLand for Paramount+, Ritchie brings his signature high-energy style and sharp storytelling back to the action genre. He previously worked with Gyllenhaal on The Covenant and the upcoming In the Grey, making this another reunion for the creative duo.

The original Road House reboot reimagined the 1989 cult classic starring Patrick Swayze, casting Gyllenhaal as a former UFC fighter trying to rebuild his life as a bouncer in a rough Florida Keys bar. Along the way, he gets drawn into a world of shady rivalries and larger-than-life characters. While the film received mixed reviews from critics, audiences embraced it in droves — cementing its status as a streaming hit for Amazon.

Plot details for the sequel remain tightly under wraps, but the screenplay will be written by Will Beall, whose recent credits include Bad Boys: Ride or Die and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.

Liman, who stepped away from the franchise, previously voiced frustration with Amazon’s decision to bypass theaters entirely for the original film’s release.

“If we don't put tentpole movies in movie theatres, there won't be movie theatres in the future,” Liman told Deadline, expressing concern over the impact of streaming-first strategies on the industry.

With Ritchie at the helm and Gyllenhaal back in the lead, Road House 2 aims to continue the momentum — this time with even higher stakes and expectations.