Jake Gyllenhaal on being a huge fan of Patrick Swayze ever since he was a kid: “The way he defined the role and the essence of what they did was really special”

The actor reveals a surprising connection to the original film: a friendship with the late Patrick Swayze, who played the titular role in the 1989 film.

By Monica Yadav -

March 23, 2024 - 1:38 PM IST

Jake Gyllenhaal steps into the shoes —and the fists — of a UFC fighter-turned-bouncer in Prime Video’s latest film Road House, a reimagining of the 1989 cult classic of the eponymous name. But for Gyllenhaal, this project goes beyond just another action flick. The actor reveals a surprising connection to the original film: a friendship with the late Patrick Swayze, who played the titular role in the 1989 film.

Jake Gyllenhaal on being a huge fan of Patrick Swayze ever since he was a kid: “The way he defined the role and the essence of what they did was really special”

"I wasn't just familiar with Road House," says Gyllenhaal. He shares, "I was a huge Patrick Swayze fan since I was a kid. We even had the honour of working together on Donnie Darko. We maintained a friendship for years after that, and he was always so loving and so supportive."

This personal connection speaks volumes about Gyllenhaal's approach to the role. He explains, "I come from the theatre, where you play roles that other people have played. The way Patrick defined the role and the essence of what they did was really special. We got to take that essence and reimagine it for the time we live in, so it is very different."

Recalling how he ended up collaborating with director-friend Doug Liman, Jake Gyllenhaal revealed, "Defying expectations is something I love to do, and that, to me, is what Doug does best." Their long-standing friendship even played a pivotal role in Gyllenhaal’s signing the film. He adds, "We were having dinner one evening, and Doug randomly said, 'I just read this script for a new version of Road House,' and before he finished his sentence, I said, 'That sounds like a terrible idea. Let's do it!'"

With a personal connection to the original film and a director known for pushing boundaries, Jake Gyllenhaal's Road House promises to be more than just a nostalgic ride. It's a reimagining with heart, humour, and plenty of action, featuring Conor McGregor, Daniela Melchior, Joaquim De Almeida, and Lukas Gage in key roles. This Doug Liman directorial is now streaming exclusively on Prime Video in English, with dubs in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada languages.