The entertainment industry is buzzing about Conor McGregor, the former UFC featherweight champion, being cast in the highly anticipated Road House reboot. According to reports, the Irish professional mixed martial artist has landed a whopping salary for his first acting role, making him the highest-paid debut actor in history.
In fact, he made this claim himself. Known as ‘Notorious’, he has declared himself to be the “highest-paid first-time actor” following his first-ever Hollywood film role. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Elwood Dalton in the Road House reboot, which is based on the same-named 1989 film. The reboot is being directed by Doug Liman and will mark McGregor’s official acting debut. For the unversed, the 1989 Rowdy Herrington-helmed film, starring the late Patrick Swayze, is considered a cult classic due to its thrilling and action-packed plot.
Jake Gyllenhaal’s Road House reboot: What We Know So Far
Due to its thrilling and action-packed storyline, the 1989 movie Road House has become a cult favorite, grossing $61.6 million against a $15 million budget. Jake Gyllenhaal co-stars with Conor McGregor, the real-life UFC star, and several other actors in the remake of the Patrick Swayze flick. Although the Prisoners star’s established acting talent guarantees an enjoyable movie, McGregor’s casting brings an unexpected twist to this much-awaited project.
Doug Liman’s remake of Road House is reportedly set for release later this year, according to Collider. Although an official release date has not yet been disclosed, the film is being distributed by Amazon Studios. Moreover, we also learned from Deadline that the Road House remake will debut on Prime Video. The story of the new film centers on Gyllenhaal, a former UFC fighter who works as a bouncer at a seedy roadhouse. He soon discovers that not everything in this idyllic tropical setting is as it appears. Although McGregor’s exact role is unknown, Deadline reports that he will play an original character rather than himself.
However, he could not stop bragging about how much money he made on his first film, which he believes makes him the highest-paid movie debutant ever, according to The Sun. His casting for this remake was announced a year ago.
Did the Road House Reboot Make Conor McGregor the ‘Highest-Paid First-Time’ Actor of All Time?
As we learned from The Sun, Conor McGregor has finished filming his scenes for the movie, which he claims brought in a good sum of money. The Notorious, 35, wrote in a since-deleted tweet:
“I’m the highest-paid first-time actor of all time. Add that to the rest of my accolades.”
If the claims are true, he is supposedly breaking down barriers and shattering expectations in Hollywood. According to Esquire, he has headlined the five most successful UFC pay-per-view (PPV) events, making him the biggest draw in mixed martial arts (MMA) history. Furthermore, with an estimated income of $180 million, McGregor was listed by Forbes as the highest-paid athlete in the world in 2021. What is his current net worth?
Well, the Irish professional fighter has a $200 million net worth, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Does he stand alone as the highest-paid debut actor of all time?
According to Far Out Magazine, Neil Diamond made history as the highest-paid debut actor at the time he played the lead in the 1980 movie The Jazz Singer. He was paid $3.5 million for his role in the film, making him the highest-paid debut actor ever. Subsequently, he was considered for the role that eventually went to Robert de Niro in Taxi Driver.
Although it is unclear if McGregor’s reported pay makes him the highest-paid debut actor of all time, one thing is sure: having this iconic figure in the Road House reboot will undoubtedly bring an unprecedented level of excitement.
Meanwhile, you can stream Road House (1989) on Max.
