Jake Gyllenhaal says Amazon was always clear that ROAD HOUSE would be streamed only after the director was upset about the non-theatrical release

Jake Gyllenhaal will take on the starring role in next month’s updated version of the classic 1989 action film, Street house. The original film starred Patrick Swayze as Dalton, who now plays Gyllenhaal, who is a bouncer at a roadhouse in the Florida Keys. The movie actually looks pretty good, but there is some controversy about it, as the same director of the movie, Doug Liman, is boycotting the film’s release due to Amazon’s decision not to release the film in theaters. The new Street house will launch streaming via Prime Video in March. The film will premiere at SXSW, but Liman said he won’t be there.

In a new interview with Total film magazine, however, Gyllenhaal confirmed that the film was always slated for a global streaming release. This was reported by sources close to the negotiations Variety that Liman, Gyllenhaal and producer Joel Silver were given a choice: make the film for $60 million and get a theatrical release or take $85 million and stream it only. They opted for the latter. “They took all the money,” an informed source said.

Gyllenhaal said Total film:

“I love Doug’s tenacity and I think he’s supporting filmmakers, movies in theaters and theatrical releases. But, I mean, Amazon has always been clear that this was about streaming. I just want as many people as possible to see it. And I think we live in a world that’s changing in the way we see and watch films and the way they’re made. What was clear to me, and what I loved so much, was [Liman’s] deep love for this movie and his pride in how much he cares, how good it is, and how many people should see it.

While Gyllenhaal loves watching movies on the big screen, he added that streaming versions can still be a platform for films that entertain and/or emotionally move audiences.

“I also sat down to watch a movie on my computer, or in different places, and was deeply moved. If the job of a story is to move people, I have been moved in both forms. I am a deep lover of cinema and theatrical releases, but I also greatly embrace the world of streaming.”

Variety reported that even after the Street house The team agreed to the streaming deal, producer Joel Silver “continued to push for a theatrical release and became so combative that the studio threatened to cut ties with him.”

Liman lashed out at Amazon Prime Video in a first-person essay on Deadline in which he said he would boycott the Street house premiere at SXSW due to the decision not to release his film theatrically.

“Amazon has no interest in supporting movie theaters,” Liman wrote. “Amazon will stream exclusively Street house on Amazon Prime. Amazon asked me and the film community to trust them and their public statements about supporting theaters, and then they turned around and used it Street house sell plumbing fixtures.”

“This hurts the directors and stars of Street house who don’t share the benefits of a successful film on a streaming platform,” he continued. “And they deprive Jake Gyllenhaal – who delivers a career-best performance – the opportunity to be recognized during awards season. But the impact it goes far beyond this film. This could shape the industry for decades to come.”

I understand that you’re upset that you didn’t get a theatrical release, but only if you were promised one. If you signed a deal that said you’d only get a streaming version, who can you blame but yourself? Street house will stream March 21 on Prime Video.