UFC fighter Ronda Rousey is starring in MGM‘s reboot of the 1980s cult classic “Road House.” Rousey will step into the role Patrick Swayze made famous.
Sources say MGM is currently meeting with screenwriters, with production set to begin in 2016.
Released in 1989, the original film starred Swayze as a bouncer hired to clean up one of the rowdiest, loudest bars in Missouri, The Double Deuce. Swayze’s character is put to the test when he needs to protect the town from a corrupt businessman.
The movie became a breakout hit and still has reached cult status today. This follows MGM’s reboot of another classic; the “Rocky” spinoff “Creed” hits theaters in November.
Rousey embraced the idea of starring in a remake, but wanted to be respectful when pursuing the project. Sources say Rousey recently reached out to Swayze’s widow, Lisa Niemi, to ask for her blessing, which Niemi gladly gave.
The project would mark Rousey’s biggest acting gig to date. This will be the fourth project being specifically developed for Rousey to star in, following her biopic “My Fight/Your Fight” at Paramount, “The Athena Project” at Warner Bros. and the STX action pic “Mile 22,” which has Pete Berg on board to direct. Production for the latter is set to start in February, following Rousey’s next fight against Holly Holm on Nov. 14.
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Rousey has already had a busy year at the cinema, appearing in “Furious 7” and the “Entourage” movie after a cameo in last year’s “The Expendables 3.”
She is repped by WME and attorney David Feldman.
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