Well, so much for the reunion tour. Road House 2 is moving forward without Guy Ritchie, and they’re bringing in a total Nobody to replace him. The Aladdin and The Gentlemen filmmaker has exited the Amazon MGM Studios sequel for undisclosed reasons leaving behind what would have been his third collaboration with Jake Gyllenhaal. The film was gearing up for a fall shoot, and it may still stay on schedule — because the studio has already zeroed in on a new director.

Ilya Naishuller, the Russian filmmaker behind Hardcore Henry, Nobody, and most recently Heads of State, is in negotiations to take over the sequel according to Deadline. It would mark his second consecutive project for Amazon MGM, following Heads of State, which debuted July 2 on Prime Video and has remained the #1 film on the platform for three straight weeks. The action comedy, starring Idris Elba, John Cena, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, has done really well for the streamer and solidifed Naishuller‘s reputation as a top class action director.

What Is ‘Road House’ About?

While plot details for Road House 2 are still under wraps, it’s expected to pick up after the events of the first film, which reimagined the 1989 Patrick Swayze cult classic. That version, directed by Doug Liman, dropped on Prime Video in March 2024 and became an instant hit. Within eight weeks, it racked up 80 million global viewers, setting a record as the streamer’s most-watched produced film debut. Gyllenhaal starred as Dalton, an ex-UFC fighter who becomes a bouncer at a rowdy Florida Keys bar — only to realize the sun-soaked paradise is far more dangerous than it appears. Gyllenhaal will return for the sequel, and so will producer Charles Roven and writer Will Beall, who penned the script. Also producing are Alex Gartner, Josh McLaughlin, and Gyllenhaal himself under his Nine Stories banner.

Naishuller brings his signature intensity to the table, having previously transformed Bob Odenkirk into an unlikely action star in Nobody, which opened at #1 at the box office and earned a Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. He first made a name for himself with Hardcore Henry, a frenetic, first-person action film that won the People’s Choice Award in the Midnight Madness section at TIFF. Whether Road House 2 keeps its September production start remains to be seen, but with Naishuller potentially onboard, let’s get back to the Keys as soon as possible.

Road House is streaming on Prime Video now.

via Collider