Take That ‘The Rock’
After its initial, and limited theatrical release on March 8, the Roadhouse remake was finally released March 21, on Amazon Prime, and the official consensus is in: it’s f’ing awesome.
Sure, it’s a remake of a film nobody really asked for, nonetheless many young whippersnappers of the current TikTok generation will have even heard of, but this remake channeled every bit of ’80s ass-kicking, zinger-quipping, cheesiness from the original, with the added elements of an adrenalised, psychotic Conor McGregor, and Jake Gyllenhaal with more muscle than anyone at his age is expected to have. And according to the former two-time UFC Champion, Conor McGregor’s claim, he is officially the highest paid first-time actor of all time, beating out Dwayne Johnson for the top spot. In his usual non-humble Instagram post, this is just another ‘highest paid’ feather to add in his already towering, diamond encrusted crown.
Although an official paystub has yet to be officially disclosed, according to The Mirror, McGregor’s salary is estimated to be about AED 18.5 million. Dwayne Johnson was paid approximately AED 20 million for his debut role in The Mummy Returns (2021), but if the Irishman is to be believed, due to the film’s skyrocketing revenue, McGregor will be paid an additional, undisclosed sum, eclipsing the former WWE wrestler. With that said, that was also over twenty years ago, so one must always take inflation into consideration, but still, not a bad day at the office for someone who, just over ten years ago, was working as a plumber in Dublin and had to push-start his dingy car on the way to work every morning while living in a council flat.
“That’s the fact, the highest paid first time actor of all time so it’s a nice feather in the cap,” McGregor said. “I’ve never done a movie before so I am akin to a white belt, a beginner. There’s not an action star in Hollywood that could take me on and that’s a fact, so let’s see how it goes.”
Coincidentally, one can’t help but notice that despite the film boasting one of the biggest and most talented working actors today, Jake Gyllenhaal, with a film directed by another Hollywood big shot, Doug Liman (Swingers, one of the best films ever made), all eyes have been on McGregor.
On a recent episode of The Kelly Clarkson show, Gyllenhaal gushed over how fun it was ‘fake fighting’ McGregor, praising the athlete turned action star for his camera ready abilities.
“Two times in a row, he just came at me and kicked me with a roundhouse,” Gyllenhaal said about McGregor’s onscreen fisticuffs. “I had to be like, ‘We’re not on camera. You know that?’ And he’d be like, ‘Oh, sorry! I didn’t know!’ There was a learning curve.”
Unlike fellow UFC superstar turned obsolete media pariah, Ronda Rousey (who was initially slated to star in the Roadhouse remake), McGregor seems to have a far better understanding of how to stay relevant when your first career choice doesn’t go your way. Let’s see how this new cinematic twist pans out. But one thing is for sure: never underestimate the importance of a silly, yet very awesome, action movie.
Stream Roadhouse now for the most action packed film in a long time, and then head to your local MMA or boxing gym to get your energy out.
