Jake Gyllenhaal Gives Road House 2 A Perfect Replacement If Doug Liman Doesn't Return

Summary Jake Gyllenhaal is set to return for Road House 2, but director Doug Liman's involvement is uncertain due to past issues with streaming release.

Guy Ritchie could be the ideal replacement director for Road House 2, given his comedic action style and previous work with Gyllenhaal.

However, Ritchie's busy schedule with other projects like "In The Grey" and "Young Sherlock" may hinder his ability to take on Road House 2.

Road House 2 might not happen with original director Doug Liman, but a perfect replacement is clear thanks to Jake Gyllenhaal. Liman and Gyllenhaal worked together to make 2024's Road House reboot, which became a streaming sensation for Prime Video. It came as no surprise then when reports surfaced that Road House 2 was in development, with Jake Gyllenhaal set to return as Dalton. The sequel could not happen without the lead character and star coming back, but, unfortunately, that is not necessarily the case for the director.

Even though Doug Liman was an instrumental part in making Road House a success, his return has been in doubt even before the sequel was confirmed. There are many behind-the-scenes and public reasons why the director might not return. For his part, Liman updated Road House 2's development by saying he'd "hate to leave [Jake Gyllenhaal] hanging" but noted that he also has never done a sequel before. If the sequel moves forward under the guidance of another director, other Gyllenhaal movies provide a great replacement for Liman.

2:35 Related Jake Gyllenhaal's Confirmed Road House 2 Return Can't Repeat The 2024 Movie's Controversial $85 Million Mistake Now that Jake Gyllenhaal is officially returning for Road House 2, the sequel needs to avoid making the same mistake as its predecessor.

Jake Gyllenhaal Should Reunite With Guy Ritchie For Road House 2 If Doug Liman Exits

They Worked Together On The Covenant

Dar Salim and Jake Gyllenhaal in Guy Ritchie's The Covenant

Replacing Doug Liman with a director who can match his comedic and action sensibilities is not an easy task for Road House 2 if that's required, but Guy Ritchie could be the best option. Part of the reason for this is that he and Gyllenhaal already have a working relationship. They first worked together on The Covenant, a war-rescue movie. Gyllenhaal is now set to star in Ritchie's next movie, In The Grey, which shows just how much they liked collaborating before. So if Road House 2 needs a director, the franchise star could bring a familiar face aboard.

Jake Gyllenhaal has only worked with the same director twice 4 times before

Beyond the history between Gyllenhaal and Ritchie, it is easy to imagine the director working within the established tone of the Road House movies. Guy Ritchie movies tend to be quite humorous and have plenty of standout action sequences, whether we're talking about earlier films like Snatch or newer ones like The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. A Road House sequel will certainly want to replicate what made the first film so successful with or without Doug Liman. If it's the latter, then Ritchie has the tools to do that.

Related All 5 Upcoming Guy Ritchie Movies Explained Guy Ritchie has at least 5 different upcoming feature films in various stages of production, in addition to two highly anticipated television series.

Why Doug Liman Might Not Return For Road House 2

He Wasn't Happy With The First Film's Release

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The only reason we're even talking about replacing Doug Liman for Road House 2 is that his return looks questionable at best. When Prime Video first announced the sequel, there was no confirmation that Liman would be back. This came after the director made plenty of public comments voicing his frustration with Amazon MGM due to how Road House was released. Liman expected the movie to have a theatrical release, and he was surprised to learn of the decision to move it to streaming.

the director probably will not sign up for the sequel if a streaming release is expected

This led Liman to stating that he would boycott Road House's premiere, which he followed through with. It is important to note that Gyllenhaal's response to the boycott included him saying "Amazon was always clear that it was streaming" in reference to the film's release plan. This has not stopped Liman from continuing to be vocal about his disappointment over how Road House's release was handled. And since Road House 2 is not confirmed for a theatrical release, the director probably will not sign up for the sequel if a streaming release is expected again.

Guy Ritchie's Schedule May Keep Him Too Busy To Make Jake Gyllenhaal's Road House 2

Ritchie Has Several Projects In Development

Guy Ritchie might be the perfect fit for Road House 2 if Doug Liman doesn't return, but whether it actually happens could come down to timing. Amazon MGM and Prime Video will not want the sequel to take years off the ground, which is typical of sequels Liman develops too. But, if the studios want the movie to happen in the next year or so, there is a good chance Ritchie will be too busy. He's still finishing up his and Gyllenhaal's movie In The Grey, and he's currently prepping to make his new Young Sherlock TV series too.

These projects, in addition to the upcoming movies Fountain of Youth and Disney's live-action Hercules, are expected to be Ritchie's priorities for the foreseeable future. Even if Road House 2 takes longer than expected to get a script together, it would be expected for the film's director to be involved relatively early on. Guy Ritchie always has new movies and shows in development to occupy his time. He simply might not have any free time to make Road House 2, even if it could be a perfect project for him.