Jake Gyllenhaal is feeling apprehensive about getting in fighting shape for the sequel to Road House.
The 44-year-old actor, known for his role in Brokeback Mountain, underwent a rigorous transformation to play an ex-UFC fighter named Dalton in the upcoming film, set for release in March 2024. While details of the sequel remain limited, Gyllenhaal shared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on March 24 that the idea of bulking up for the role was “terrifying.”
During the interview, Colbert jokingly suggested that Gyllenhaal would need to “eat every chicken that’s left in America,” referencing the bird flu outbreak. He then proposed “a lot of shrimp” as an alternative protein source, to which Gyllenhaal replied that the idea was “the most unappetizing.”
In March 2024, Gyllenhaal also opened up about the challenges of getting in shape for the original Road House movie. Speaking to PEOPLE, he explained that it “took a village” to achieve the necessary physical transformation. “I knew I needed help with nutrition, injury prevention, and also to achieve the aesthetic for the role,” he said. He also recalled having a similar experience in 2015 for his role in Southpaw, acknowledging the constant support he received.
The original Road House film, released in 1989, starred the late Patrick Swayze. Gyllenhaal, who worked with Swayze on Donnie Darko in 2001, took to Instagram in March 2024 to honor the late actor. “He was such a talent, and I continue to have so much respect and admiration for what he put out into the world,” Gyllenhaal wrote. “I’ll never forget his kindness to me when I was starting out—he didn’t have to take the time, but he always did. We’ve made a different Road House this time, but I hope it’s one he would’ve enjoyed watching!”
Swayze passed away at age 57 in September 2009 after battling pancreatic cancer.
