‘Road House’ remake director boycotts premiere over streaming release

nme.com:

Road House, will be boycotting the film’s premiere after Amazon Prime Video decided on a streaming-only release.The remake of the 1989 film starring Patrick Swayze will star Jake Gyllenhaal as an ex-UFC fighter who ends up working in a roadhouse in the Florida Keys.In an open letter published by Deadline, Liman wrote that he will “not be attending” the film’s premiere in Texas at the SXSW film festival in March.The Edge Of Tomorrow director wrote: “The movie is fantastic, maybe my best, and I’m sure it will bring the house down and possibly have the audience dancing in their seats during the end credits.

But I will not be there.”His letter called out Amazon for the decision saying: “Contrary to their public statements, Amazon has no interest in supporting cinemas.

Amazon will exclusively stream Road House on Amazon’s Prime.”“Amazon asked me and the film community to trust them and their public statements about supporting cinemas, and then they turned around and are using Road House to sell plumbing fixtures,” he added.When he initially agreed to direct Road House, Liman signed to MGM, before the film studio was acquired by Amazon for $8.5billion (£6.7billion).The letter continued: “I’m not opposed to streaming movies.