Jake Gyllenhaal will star in a new sports movie called ‘Play by Play’.
Chris McCoy wrote the script.
Amazon MGM Studios is backing the project.
It looks like Jake Gyllenhaal is becoming a company player for Amazon MGM Studios, as the company has bought yet another project for him to star in and produce via his Nine Stories production label.
Plot specifics about ‘Play by Play’ are largely under wraps (more on that below), but McCoy has a past in sports scripting and the potential movie will also be produced by a company called Religion of Sports’, co-owned by Tom Brady (yes, the one who has a little bit of sports experience himself) and Gotham Chopra.
Jake Gyllenhaal in ‘Presumed Innocent,’ premiering June 12, 2024 on Apple TV+.
As we mentioned, Deadline’s report on Gyllenhaal boarding the movie offers no details on the story, but a quick online check suggests it’ll feature the story of a popular pro sports newscaster gets involved in a seedy underworld on his road trips and becomes a marked man by a notorious gang. But we’ll have to wait and see if that is the actual plot.
This is just the latest Amazon MGM movie Gyllenhaal is involved in, following the ‘Road House’ remake and its upcoming sequel.
He’s also in business with the company on ‘Honeymoon with Harry’, a forthcoming dramedy where he’ll star opposite Kevin Costner, as well as ‘Code Black’, a political thriller based on a short story by Harrison Query that’s currently in development.
(L to R) Maurice Compte and Gerard Butler in ‘Den of Thieves’. Photo: STXfilms.
2025 is almost over and another new year is upon us.
And there is no better way to spend New Year’s Day than by watching some movies!
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Moviefone has compiled a list of some of the most popular movies ever made, including some released just this year, for you to choose from while you are relaxing on the first day of the new year.
‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ will open in theaters on April 7, 2023.
While working underground to fix a water main, Brooklyn plumbers—and brothers—Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) are transported down a mysterious pipe and wander into a magical new world. But when the brothers are separated, Mario embarks on an epic quest to find Luigi.
In ‘The Beekeeper’, one man’s (Jason Statham) brutal campaign for vengeance takes on national stakes after he is revealed to be a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as “Beekeepers”.
A wealthy entrepreneur (Richard Attenborough) secretly creates a theme park featuring living dinosaurs drawn from prehistoric DNA. Before opening day, he invites a team of experts (Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum) and his two eager grandchildren to experience the park and help calm anxious investors. However, the park is anything but amusing as the security systems go off-line and the dinosaurs escape.
Senator Walter Chalmers (Robert Vaughn) is aiming to take down mob boss Pete Ross with the help of testimony from the criminal’s hothead brother Johnny, who is in protective custody in San Francisco under the watch of police lieutenant Frank Bullitt (Steve McQueen). When a pair of mob hitmen enter the scene, Bullitt follows their trail through a maze of complications and double-crosses. This thriller includes one of the most famous car chases ever filmed.
After the devastating events of ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos (Josh Brolin). With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.
Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner) spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life.
John Wick (Keanu Reeves) uncovers a path to defeating The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.
When Ripley’s (Sigourney Weaver) lifepod is found by a salvage crew over 50 years later, she finds that terra-formers are on the very planet they found the alien species. When the company sends a family of colonists out to investigate her story—all contact is lost with the planet and colonists. They enlist Ripley and the colonial marines to return and search for answers.
In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as “The Basterds” are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. The Basterds, lead by Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) soon cross paths with a French-Jewish teenage girl (Mélanie Laurent), who runs a movie theater in Paris which is targeted by the soldiers.
Racing legend Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) is coaxed out of retirement to lead a struggling Formula 1 team—and mentor a young hotshot driver—while chasing one more chance at glory.
King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne by factions within his own country as well as without. Using powers reserved to Wakandan kings, T’Challa assumes the Black Panther mantle to join with ex-girlfriend Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), the queen-mother (Angela Bassett), his princess-kid sister (Letitia Wright), members of the Dora Milaje (the Wakandan ‘special forces’) and an American secret agent (Martin Freeman), to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.
Annie’s (Kristen Wiig) life is a mess. But when she finds out her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as Lillian’s (Maya Rudolph) maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals. With one chance to get it perfect, she’ll show Lillian and her bridesmaids just how far you’ll go for someone you love.
Nearly 10 years have passed since Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) was targeted for termination by a cyborg from the future. Now her son, John (Edward Furlong), the future leader of the resistance, is the target for a newer, more deadly terminator (Robert Patrick). Once again, the resistance has managed to send a protector (Arnold Schwarzenegger) back to attempt to save John and his mother Sarah.
A gritty crime saga which follows the lives of an elite unit of the LA County Sheriff’s Dept. and the state’s most successful bank robbery crew as the outlaws plan a seemingly impossible heist on the Federal Reserve Bank.
(L to R) Robert Redford and Paul Newman in ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’. Photo: 20th Century-Fox.
In late 1890s Wyoming, Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) is the affable, clever and talkative leader of the outlaw Hole in the Wall Gang. His closest companion is the laconic dead-shot Sundance Kid (Robert Redford). As the west rapidly becomes civilized, the law finally catches up to Butch, Sundance and their gang. Chased doggedly by a special posse, the two decide to make their way to South America in hopes of evading their pursuers once and for all.
After losing their academic posts at a prestigious university, a team of parapsychologists (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis) goes into business as proton-pack-toting “ghostbusters” who exterminate ghouls, hobgoblins and supernatural pests of all stripes. An ad campaign pays off when a knockout cellist (Sigourney Weaver) hires the squad to purge her swanky digs of demons that appear to be living in her refrigerator.
In the 22nd century, a paraplegic Marine (Sam Worthington) is dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission, but becomes torn between following orders and protecting an alien civilization.
A star quarterback (Dennis Quaid) gets knocked out of the game and an unknown third stringer (Jamie Foxx) is called in to replace him. The unknown gives a stunning performance and forces the ageing coach (Al Pacino) to reevaluate his game plans and life. A new co-owner/president (Cameron Diaz) adds to the pressure of winning. The new owner must prove herself in a male dominated world.
Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Michael B. Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
For Lieutenant Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell (Tom Cruise) and his friend and co-pilot Nick ‘Goose’ Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards), being accepted into an elite training school for fighter pilots is a dream come true. But a tragedy, as well as personal demons, will threaten Pete’s dreams of becoming an ace pilot.
Batman (Michael Keaton) must face his most ruthless nemesis when a deformed madman calling himself “The Joker” (Jack Nicholson) seizes control of Gotham’s criminal underworld.
The epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda (Frank Oz). But Darth Vader (voice of James Earl Jones) is more determined than ever to capture Luke. Meanwhile, rebel leader Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), cocky Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew ), and droids C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) and R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) are thrown into various stages of capture, betrayal and despair.
At the height of the Vietnam war, Captain Benjamin Willard (Martin Sheen) is sent on a dangerous mission that, officially, “does not exist, nor will it ever exist.” His goal is to locate – and eliminate – a mysterious Green Beret Colonel named Walter Kurtz (Marlon Brando), who has been leading his personal army on illegal guerrilla missions into enemy territory.
Brad Pitt as Cliff Booth in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.’ Photo: Sony Pictures.
Los Angeles, 1969. TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), a struggling actor specializing in westerns, and stuntman Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), his best friend, try to survive in a constantly changing movie industry. Dalton is the neighbor of the young and promising actress and model Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), who has just married the prestigious Polish director Roman Polanski (Rafał Zawierucha).
Eighties teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is accidentally sent back in time to 1955, inadvertently disrupting his parents’ first meeting and attracting his mother’s romantic interest. Marty must repair the damage to history by rekindling his parents’ romance and, with the help of his eccentric inventor friend Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), return to 1985.
In the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino) steps in to take care of the would-be killers, launching a campaign of bloody revenge.
Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans.
Doug Liman is developing his own ‘Road House’ sequel.
It would be based on a script by the 1989 movie’s writer R. Lance Hill.
This would be a rival for Amazon MGM’s sequel to the 2024 remake.
Here’s an intriguing twist on the ‘Road House’ saga.
Doug Liman, who directed the 2024 remake but ended up disagreeing with studio Amazon MGM over its release on Prime Video instead of theaters (more on that below), is developing his own new ‘Road House’ movie.
That would be a completely different project from the sequel to the remake that Amazon MGM has in the works even now.
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According to Deadline, Liman has acquired the rights to R. Lance Hill’s sequel script ‘Road House: Dylan,’ which follows up the events of the 1989 original, starring Patrick Swayze as bouncer Dalton (Hill wrote that movie too).
(L to R) Casey Affleck, director Doug Liman and Matt Damon on the set of ‘The Instigators’. Photo: Apple TV+.
Liman made a deal to direct what became the 2024 ‘Road House’ which starred Jake Gyllenhaal as a new version of Dylan, this one a UFC fighter who starts working at a roadside bar as a bouncer to stop the local thugs and corrupt businessman trashing the place.
The original plan –– and Liman’s agreement –– was for the movie to hit theaters. It tested well enough to be a sleeper theatrical hit, but Amazon decided it would be released directly to Prime Video.
While Liman and producer Joel Silver even screened the picture for Amazon chief Jeff Bezos and his now-wife Lauren Sanchez Bezos, Amazon creative execs would not yield.
There was even a PR conflict, as Liman placed a Deadline article complaining about the move, but did attend the premiere. And the movie became a streaming hit, the biggest film debut ever with a record-breaking 50 million worldwide viewers in its first two weekends on Prime Video.
This new potential sequel is fraught with its own issues, as there is disagreement over who owns the rights to Hill’s original ‘Road House’ script and anything spawned from it.
What’s the latest with Amazon’s ‘Road House’ sequel?
And there is another new recruit for the follow-up to the 2024 Prime Video release, as Deadline brings word that Aldis Hodge, recently seen as the star of the company’s ‘Cross’, is now also aboard.
The 1989 original, directed by Rowdy Herrington, starred Patrick Swayze in the story of a roadside dive called The Double Deuce, a sleazy music joint in the small town of Jasper, Missouri, “the kind of place where they sweep up the eyeballs after closing”.
The owner, tired of his place being wrecked by muscle-bound “power drinkers” and provocative bimbos, hires the best bouncer in the business (Swayze’s Dalton) to cool things down. Famously, he starts off charming but doesn’t hesitate to take extreme throat-ripping measures when pushed to his limit.
For the 2024 re-invention, with Doug Liman this time in the director’s chair, Gyllenhaal took on the slightly adjusted role of Dalton, this time a former UFC fighter looking to find new meaning in his life who finds work as a bouncer at a property owned by Frankie (Jessica Williams).
The movie became a big hit for Amazon, drawing 2.3 million households between March 21st, which is when it was added to the Prime Video library, and March 24th.
At Amazon’s Upfront presentation last May –– where it promotes its upcoming movies and shows to advertisers to encourage them to purchase pricey spots on its service –– the company announced that a ‘Road House’ sequel was in the early stages of development.
Will Beall is at work on the script for the sequel, which is a mystery for now –– though a mid-credits scene in the 2024 movie showed Conor McGregor’s villain Knox wreaking havoc at a hospital and escaping unscathed, so presumably that rematch is something that could well be picked up for the new movie, though that plan might be scuppered given that McGregor has recently been embroiled in some legal scandals.
When will the ‘Road House’ sequel be on screens?
Prime Video has yet to confirm when the new movie might arrive, but given the initial reboot’s success, we suspect this new one might also skip theaters and head instead straight to streaming.
‘Nobody’ and ‘Heads of State’ director Ilya Naishuller is in talks for ‘Road House 2’.
Guy Ritchie had the job but has since departed the sequel.
Jake Gyllenhaal is still aboard to star.
In April, it looked like Jake Gyllenhaal and Guy Ritchie were all set to keep their collaboration train chugging along as news landed that the director had signed on to handle ‘Road House 2,’ which would see Gyllenhaal back as MMA fighter-turned-bar security pugilist Dalton.
But it hasn’t quite worked out that way, with Ritchie departing the project for unknown reasons –– though his busy schedule of other movies and various TV series could well be to blame.
Never mind, though, since, per Deadline, Amazon MGM is close to locking down a replacement, in the shape of Ilya Naishuller.
The 1989 original, directed by Rowdy Herrington, starred Patrick Swayze in the story of a roadside dive called The Double Deuce, a sleazy music joint in the small town of Jasper, Missouri, “the kind of place where they sweep up the eyeballs after closing”.
The owner, tired of his place being wrecked by muscle-bound “power drinkers” and provocative bimbos, hires the best bouncer in the business (Swayze’s Dalton) to cool things down. Famously, he starts off charming but doesn’t hesitate to take extreme throat-ripping measures when pushed to his limit.
For the 2024 re-invention, Gyllenhaal took on the slightly adjusted role of Dalton, this time a former UFC fighter looking to find new meaning in his life who finds work as a bouncer at a property owned by Frankie (Jessica Williams).
Directing that one was Doug Liman, and behind-the-scenes drama, as producer Joel Silver was removed for aggressive behavior, Liman denounced the plan to release the movie direct to streaming (he’s since made peace with the idea) and a lawsuit from the writer of the original that claimed the new movie was simply a grab at keeping the IP.
Still, the movie became a big hit for Amazon, drawing 2.3 million households between March 21st, which is when it was added to the Prime Video library, and March 24th.
At Amazon’s Upfront presentation last May –– where it promotes its upcoming movies and shows to advertisers to encourage them to purchase pricey spots on its service –– the company announced that a ‘Road House’ sequel was in the early stages of development.
Will Beall is at work on the script for the sequel, which is a mystery for now –– though a mid-credits scene in the 2024 movie showed Conor McGregor’s villain Knox wreaking havoc at a hospital and escaping unscathed, so presumably that rematch is something that could well be picked up for the new movie.
When will the ‘Road House’ sequel be on screens?
There is no information yet as to a release date for the new movie.
But perhaps the more interesting question is, where will the ‘Road House’ movie be on screens? Given the success of the 2024 outing, there’s a big chance that Amazon could decide that the best place for a follow-up is to premiere right alongside it on the Prime Video streaming service.
Dave Bautista is circling a role in the ‘Road House’ sequel.
Jake Gyllenhaal will be back as Dalton.
Guy Ritchie’s directing.
We’re starting to learn more about the follow-up to last year’s ‘Road House’ remake, which saw Jake Gyllenhaal as a former MMA brawler who turned his skills to stopping drunken rumbles at the titular locale.
Gyllenhaal will be back, of course, and this time around, Guy Ritchie will be the one calling the shots (and the pints, presumably, since it’s set at a bar).
The 1989 original, directed by Rowdy Herrington, starred Patrick Swayze in the story of a roadside dive called The Double Deuce, a sleazy music joint in the small town of Jasper, Missouri, “the kind of place where they sweep up the eyeballs after closing”.
The owner, tired of his place being wrecked by muscle-bound “power drinkers” and provocative bimbos, hires the best bouncer in the business (Swayze’s Dalton) to cool things down. Famously, he starts off charming but doesn’t hesitate to take extreme throat-ripping measures when pushed to his limit.
For the 2024 re-invention, Gyllenhaal took on the slightly adjusted role of Dalton, this time a former UFC fighter looking to find new meaning in his life who finds work as a bouncer at a property owned by Frankie (Jessica Williams).
Anthony Bagarozzi & Charles Mondry wrote the new movie took place at a rough-and-tumble roadhouse in the Florida Keys, but “soon discovers that not everything is what it seems in this tropical paradise.”
Directing that one was Doug Liman, and behind-the-scenes drama, as producer Joel Silver was removed for aggressive behavior, Liman denounced the plan to release the movie direct to streaming (he’s since made peace with the idea) and a lawsuit from the writer of the original that claimed the new movie was simply a grab at keeping the IP.
Still, the movie became a big hit for Amazon, drawing 2.3 million households between March 21st, which is when it was added to the Prime Video library, and March 24th.
At Amazon’s Upfront presentation last May –– where it promotes its upcoming movies and shows to advertisers to encourage them to purchase pricey spots on its service –– the company announced that a ‘Road House’ sequel was in the early stages of development.
This is what Amazon film boss Jennifer Salke said at the event:
“As we saw this spring the world went crazy for a little movie called ‘Road House’. Nearly 80 million viewers globally have watched ‘Road House.’ We like to watch this these results like a baby.”
Will Beall is at work on the script for the sequel, which is a mystery for now –– though a mid-credits scene in the 2024 movie showed Conor McGregor’s villain Knox wreaking havoc at a hospital and escaping unscathed, so presumably that rematch is something that could well be picked up for the new movie.
There is no information yet as to a release date for the new movie.
But perhaps the more interesting question is, where will the ‘Road House’ movie be on screens? Given the success of the 2024 outing, there’s a big chance that Amazon could decide that the best place for a follow-up is to premiere right alongside it on the Prime Video streaming service.
But with the company’s much-vaunted commitment to theatrical releases, as touted during its CinemaCon presentation last week, perhaps having a Gyllenhaal movie in cinemas is no bad strategy –– especially if it drives people to then check out the movie on streaming. We’ve a feeling, though, that it’ll be the former option.
Guy Ritchie has agreed to direct the ‘Road House’ sequel.
Jake Gyllenhaal will be back as Dalton.
Amazon MGM Studios is once more backing the movie.
There is increasing evidence that filmmaker Guy Ritchie has either cracked the secret of cloning, owns one of the Time-Turners from ‘Harry Potter’ or has simply given up on the idea of sleep or seeing his family.
This is, after all, the man who directed five films in the last four years, and has three films potentially set for release this year (‘Fountain of Youth,’ ‘Wife & Dog,’ and ‘In the Grey’), and that’s before mentioning the Paramount+ series ‘MobLand,’ which recently started streaming, and ‘The Gentlemen,’ renewed for season 2 at Netflix.
And if all that wasn’t enough, he’s also taking on another assignment, as Puck and World of Reel have confirmed that Ritchie will be behind the camera for Amazon MGM’s sequel to 2024’s ‘Road House’ remake, which will once again star Jake Gyllenhaal.
The 1989 original, directed by Rowdy Herrington, starred Patrick Swayze in the story of a roadside dive called The Double Deuce, a sleazy music joint in the small town of Jasper, Missouri, “the kind of place where they sweep up the eyeballs after closing”.
The owner, tired of his place being wrecked by muscle-bound “power drinkers” and provocative bimbos, hires the best bouncer in the business (Swayze’s Dalton) to cool things down. Famously, he starts off charming but doesn’t hesitate to take extreme throat-ripping measures when pushed to his limit.
For the 2024 re-invention, Gyllenhaal took on the slightly adjusted role of Dalton, this time a former UFC fighter looking to find new meaning in his life who finds work as a bouncer at a property owned by Frankie (Jessica Williams).
Anthony Bagarozzi & Charles Mondry wrote the new movie took place at a rough-and-tumble roadhouse in the Florida Keys, but “soon discovers that not everything is what it seems in this tropical paradise.”
Directing that one was Doug Liman, and behind-the-scenes drama, as producer Joel Silver was removed for aggressive behavior, Liman denounced the plan to release the movie direct to streaming (he’s since made peace with the idea) and a lawsuit from the writer of the original that claimed the new movie was simply a grab at keeping the IP.
Still, the movie became a big hit for Amazon, drawing 2.3 million households between March 21st, which is when it was added to the Prime Video library, and March 24th.
At Amazon’s Upfront presentation last May –– where it promotes its upcoming movies and shows to advertisers to encourage them to purchase pricey spots on its service –– the company announced that a ‘Road House’ sequel was in the early stages of development.
This is what Amazon film boss Jennifer Salke said at the event:
“As we saw this spring the world went crazy for a little movie called ‘Road House’. Nearly 80 million viewers globally have watched ‘Road House.’ We like to watch this these results like a baby.”
Ritchie certainly feels like the right person to handle this, as he’s used to tough-guy movies that have a little more going on under the surface.
And he and Gyllenhaal have a prior working relationship –– the actor starred in the director’s 2023 war movie ‘The Covenant’ and they’ve reunited for this year’s ‘In the Grey,’ which sees two extraction specialists having to chart a route of escape for a senior female negotiator.
Actor Jake Gyllenhaal (left) and director Guy Ritchie (right) on the set of ‘The Covenant,’ a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Christopher Raphael / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures.
Given the subject matter and the established connection between director and star, hopes are likely high that things will go much more smoothly this time around.
Will Beall is at work on the script for the sequel, which is a mystery for now –– though a mid-credits scene in the 2024 movie showed Conor McGregor’s villain Knox wreaking havoc at a hospital and escaping unscathed, so presumably that rematch is something that could well be picked up for the new movie.
As for other cast members? No word yet on returning veterans or newcomers.
There is no information yet as to a release date for the new movie.
But perhaps the more interesting question is, where will the ‘Road House’ movie be on screens? Given the success of the 2024 outing, there’s a big chance that Amazon could decide that the best place for a follow-up is to premiere right alongside it on the Prime Video streaming service.
But with the company’s much-vaunted commitment to theatrical releases, as touted during its CinemaCon presentation last week, perhaps having a Gyllenhaal movie in cinemas is no bad strategy –– especially if it drives people to then check out the movie on streaming. We’ve a feeling, though, that it’ll be the former option.
Jake Gyllenhaal is reportedly to star in M. Night Shyamalan’s new movie.
It’s a romantic supernatural thriller.
Nicholas Sparks co-created the story and will write a book based on it.
The last time M. Night Shyamalan brought us a movie, he delivered last year’s ‘Trap,’ in which Josh Hartnett played a father escorting his daughter to a pop star’s concert, only to discover that the event is one giant snare designed to catch him –– as he’s also a serial killer whose latest victim is chained up in his basement.
Now the writer/director is back, and for his next trick, he’s got another big name actor looking to sign on. Jake Gyllenhaal, most recently seen in the ‘Road House’ remake, will take the lead role in the movie.
But perhaps more intriguing than the Gyllenhaal casting –– after all, Shyamalan has worked with the likes of Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson to name just a few in the past –– is word that the filmmaker concocted the story alongside Nicholas Sparks. Yes, the best-selling author.
Director M. Night Shyamalan talks ‘Trap,’ which opens in theaters on August 2nd.
That’s one element we don’t know yet, at least beyond the basic supernatural romance angle.
More fascinating is the detail that Shyamalan and Sparks both intend to use the story they came up with together. While Shyamalan works on his movie, Sparks will be writing a novel based on the basic plot.
Both projects will share the same concept and set of characters, but will be tailored to their respective mediums.
So will we see Gyllenhaal as a widower who discovers that… twist alert! His wife is not as deceased as he thought? Well, the twist here is that we really don’t know.
Shyamalan is, as usual, keeping this close on his latest effort.
Has Nicholas Sparks been connected with movies before?
(L to R) Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in ‘The Notebook.’ Photo: New Line Cinema.
Saying Sparks has movie links is like saying Apple TV+ has series starting with the letter “S.”
He has published twenty-three novels, all New York Times bestsellers, and two works of nonfiction, with over 115 million copies sold worldwide in more than 50 languages.
Films based on his novels have grossed more than $889 million worldwide, with more in development. He also worked as screenwriter on ‘The Last Song.’
Sparks’ latest book, ‘Counting Miracles,’ was released this past fall and debuted top of the New York Times bestsellers list. And you’ll be shocked to learn it’s in the process of being adapted into a film by Amazon.
This agreement with Shyamalan feels more unique –– and it’ll be interesting to see how the movie differs from the book. We’d guess the film might lean more closely into genre trappings.
What else does Jake Gyllenhaal have coming up?
Jake Gyllenhaal in ‘Presumed Innocent,’ premiering June 12, 2024 on Apple TV+.
Despite some early controversy about its straight-to-streaming distribution, Amazon’s ‘Road House’ was a massive hit for the studio breaking streaming records, with a sequel already in development.
Gyllenhaal next showed up in the critically acclaimed limited series ‘Presumed Innocent’ for Apple TV+, and that earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
This year he will share the stage starting next month with Denzel Washington in an adaptation of ‘Othello’ on Broadway.
The film doesn’t yet have a studio home, though ‘Trap’ distributors Warner Bros. are already in talks to handle it, so we doubt it’ll take long for that to lock in.
In the years since the movie arrived to underwhelming box office, it has risen in popularity, and talk of a sequel has popped up from time to time, usually driven by one of the filmmakers.
(L to R) Emily Blunt and Tom Cruise in ‘Edge of Tomorrow’. Photo: Warner Bros.
When Earth falls under attack from invincible aliens, no military unit in the world is able to beat them. Major. William Cage (Cruise), a cowardly propaganda officer who has never seen combat, is assigned to a suicide mission.
Killed within moments, Cage finds himself thrown into a time loop, in which he relives the same brutal fight –– and his death –– over and over again. However, Cage’s fighting skills improve with each encore, bringing him and experienced soldier Rita (Blunt) ever closer to defeating the aliens.
Tom Cruise in ‘Edge of Tomorrow’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Here’s what Liman said about the potential follow-up:
“We keep talking about it. We love that world. I don’t know how long Cameron took his Terminators, but at the time if felt like a long time.”
And according to him, he hopes the movie finds a second life, like some of his other work.
“Tom and I just actually rewatched it about two months ago, because I hadn’t seen it in 10 years. I was like, ‘Wow, that is a really good movie.’ I haven’t necessarily always had the good fortune of having movies that have huge opening weekends. ‘Bourne Identity’ lost to ‘Scooby-Doo’ on its opening weekend. And ‘Swingers’ came and went from the theaters. What I’ve come to understand is, I’m making movies for the long term. I’m an ego-driven guy, I’d like to get accolades now. But I also recognize that, if I was given the choice, I’ll choose making films that people 50 years from now are still watching.”
Is an ‘Edge of Tomorrow’ sequel likely?
Tom Cruise in ‘Edge of Tomorrow’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Given that the movie did decent if not stellar box office, ($370 million from a $178 million budget), it hasn’t exactly been a priority for Warner Bros.
Still, according to Christopher McQuarrie, who helped get the script into shooting shape (and who regularly works with Cruise, most notably on the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise), an idea exists for the new possible movie.
“We had such a cool idea for a sequel. I would have loved to see that come together. It’s just that so many stars have to align. It’s a really tricky one.”
Emily Blunt in ‘Edge of Tomorrow’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Jake Gyllenhaal attends as Amazon debuts Inaugural Upfront Presentation at Pier 36 on May 14, 2024 in New York City. Photo by Slaven Vlasic-Getty Images for Amazon.
Preview:
Jake Gyllenhaal will star in a ‘Road House’ sequel.
Amazon confirmed the news today.
The company also announced word on ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ and more.
It was a big news day for Amazon’s film studio arm and streaming service Prime Video, as the companies used their shared first “Upfronts” (a presentation for ad buyers) to announce some new projects and follow-ups to recent successes.
Prime –– pun entirely intended –– among the movie news was word of a sequel to this spring’s ‘Road House’, the updated take on the cult Patrick Swayze bar-brawling drama that starred Jake Gyllenhaal.
Though the first film arrived on a wave of negative press –– producer Joel Silver was removed for aggressive behavior, director Doug Liman denounced the plan to release the movie direct to streaming (he’s since made peace with the idea) and a lawsuit from the writer of the original that claimed the new movie was simply a grab at keeping the IP –– ‘Road House’ has turned out to be a big success for Amazon/MGM, with 50 million views globally in its first two weekends.
And there was more to come…
This is what Amazon film boss Jennifer Salke said at the event:
“As we saw this spring the world went crazy for a little movie called ‘Road House’. Nearly 80 million viewers globally have watched ‘Road House.’ We like to watch these results like a baby.”
So, far from putting baby in a corner (a little cross-Swayze humor there), the studio has Gyllenhaal ready to return for a follow-up. No other details were confirmed, so we’ll have to wait to see if Liman is lured back to direct (highly unlikely) and what the story might be for the star’s main character Dalton, the MMA pugilist-turned-bar bouncer.
(L to R) Maya Erskine and Donald Glover in ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith.’ Credit: David Lee/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon Studios.
The thriller series, which takes the Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt movie as its loose inspiration to tell a story of relationships and spy craft, was confirmed to be returning for a second season.
But unlike ‘Road House’, there was no confirmed casting, so while Donald Glover (who also co-created the show with Francesca Sloane) and Maya Erskine starred in Season 1 as two strangers brought together by a mysterious agency, there is no word yet on whether they’ll be back (despite the first season ending in a seeming cliff-hanger).
Sloane is back for Season 2 to run the show, but it remains to be seen whether the series continues the story of the established John (Glover) and Jane (Erskine) Smith or follows some other agents.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge was originally aboard to develop and co-star in the show with Glover but left after creative differences. Still, she’s stuck around Amazon/Prime Video…
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s ‘Tomb Raider’ series
Phoebe Waller-Bridge from ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ at Star Wars Celebration 2023.
While we knew that ‘Fleabag’ creator has been developing a show based on the ‘Tomb Raider’ video game, Amazon has now handed down a series order.
Waller-Bridge will write the series, but currently doesn’t plan to star.
Here’s what she had to say about the news:
“If I could tell my teenage self this was happening I think she’d explode. ‘Tomb Raider has been a huge part of my life and I feel incredibly privileged to be bringing it to television with such passionate collaborators. Lara Croft means a lot to me, as she does to many, and I can’t wait to go on this adventure. Bats ‘n all.”
Preview:
