Jake Gyllenhaal recently played an MMA fighter in the remake of Road House. The actor shared screen space with real-life UFC champion Conor McGregor. The film was a remake of the ‘80s classic starring Patrick Swayze and was extremely successful despite being released directly on Amazon Prime Video.
The success of the first film has reportedly led to a sequel being commissioned. Much like McGregor, another prominent athlete might just be in the running for the antagonist again, if the sequel decides to go the same route. After looking at boxer Ryan Garcia’s antics over the past few months, Road House 2 might have just found its new villain.
Ryan Garcia Faces Intense Controversy After Latest Bout
Boxer Ryan Garcia has been in the headlines for quite some time due to his antics off the ring. The boxer recently had a bout with Devin Haney, which ended in a majority decision victory for Garcia. However, recent reports indicate that Garcia allegedly tested positive for doping and that Haney had requested the loss be overturned (via ESPN).
The match between Garcia and Haney has been marred with controversy. The former publicly put on an unhinged persona and reportedly made many claims before the match. After claiming that he would pay Haney $500,000 for every pound he was overweight, he showed up on weighing day with 3.2 pounds more than the 140-pound limit (via ESPN).
The weight difference reportedly led to Ryan Garcia not being eligible for the WBC junior welterweight title due to missing weight and even having to forfeit up to $600,000 from his purse. Though he won the bout by a majority decision, he is currently marred by the doping scandal after he tested positive for an anabolic agent Ostarine (via MMA Fighting).
Now, an Instagram user has revealed that Garcia bet $2 million on himself before the match and made himself look ridiculous in public so he could cash in big during the match. The boxer reportedly went home with $12 million after his win at the ring. According to Devin Haney’s camp, the weight miss was also a tactic that led to him gaining an advantage in the game (via ESPN).
Will Ryan Garcia Be The Perfect Fit For Jake Gyllenhaal’s Road House 2?
Ryan Garcia has made quite a name for himself as a controversial figure due to his off-the-stage antics. The boxer is known for making bold claims and even taking on other celebrities such as Logan Paul. According to Marca, he has been a cause for concern by his parents, who reportedly called the cops to do a wellness check on him at a hotel.
Taking into account the doping scandal, the lawsuit from Logan Paul, and his various relationship struggles, Ryan Garcia might just be the perfect antagonist for Jake Gyllenhaal’s upcoming Road House sequel. The actor was confirmed to return to a sequel that has been greenlit after the success of the original (via Variety).
The first film, which was a remake of Patrick Swayze’s classic, featured MMA champion Conor McGregor as Knox, an unhinged heavy who takes on Jake Gyllenhaal’s Dalton. Gyllenhaal played a former MMA fighter who joins as a bouncer at a Road House club and gets involved in a life of crime. The film was successful upon release on Amazon Prime Video.
While Conor McGregor had his own share of off-screen (and off-stage) antics, the Notorious channeled his unhinged personality to perfection in the action film. He and Gyllenhaal shared a wonderful chemistry that translated onto the screen in a proper way. If the sequel hopes to go in the same direction for the antagonist, the makers need to look no further than Ryan Garcia.
Road House is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
