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Who is THE ACOLYTE’S Mystery Sith Villain? | Star Wars Fan Theory

Welcome back to the galaxy far, far away, Star Wars fans! The first trailer for The Acolyte is taking us back to the High Republic as a mysterious Sith force is taking out Jedi one by one. While we get a good look at one of the series antagonists in the trailer, a mystery looms as to who is pulling the strings. Dan dives in to break down the potential suspects on today’s Nerdist News!

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Ghostbusters Cast Reveal Weirdest Conversations w/ Dan Aykroyd

Ghostbuster: Frozen Empire stars Ernie Hudson (Winston Zeddemore), Paul Rudd (Gary Grooberson), Carrie Coon (Callie Spengler), Mckenna Grace (Phoebe Spengler), and Finn Wolfhard (Trevor Spengler) sit down with Nerdist’s Michael Walsh to talk about working with the original cast, the evolution of Winston, and the weirdest conversations they’ve had with Dan Aykroyd.

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FORTNITE Players Can Now Build Their Own LEGO Islands

The collaboration between The LEGO Group and Epic Games’ Fortnite continues to heat up. We recently shared the incredible new LEGO Fortnite game and LEGO Fortnite Islands. But now Fortnite players will be able to use LEGO in a whole new way—to build their very own LEGO Islands.

Epic Games/The LEGO Group

New LEGO tools are coming to the Unreal Editor for Fortnite and Fortnite Creative. These will allow creators to design and publish LEGO Islands of their own in the world of Fortnite. For those who love building on Fortnite and love building with LEGO (we know we do), it’s a match made in heaven. A release shares “Fortnite creators across the world will now be able to design and build their own LEGO Islands within Fortnite, using LEGO elements.  This will bring the iconic LEGO System in Play and its endless creative possibilities to life in a digital setting like never before.” LEGO elements, LEGO Styles, and LEGO Brand Assets are now available for use. There are four different templates available to help any new creators get started.

Building all new islands, limited only by your imagination.

Create your own LEGO® Island with LEGO Elements and Island Templates in UEFN and Creative – starting now! pic.twitter.com/KJif56WKa7

— Fortnite Creators (@FNCreate) March 20, 2024

We can’t wait to see all the new LEGO builds that emerge. In addition to whatever creator-made fun lies in store, three more official LEGO Islands will also join Fortnite. They are:

LEGO Prop Hunt – builds on popular ‘Prop Hunt’ mechanics to create zany LEGO fun for you and other players within the expanse of a wacky shopping mall!

LEGO Battle Arena – allows gamers to become the next Spinjitzu master! You can enroll in special training at the LEGO NINJAGO Dojo with Lloyd and the Masters of Spinjitzu, where you can compete against other trainees, hone your skills, and prove yourself.  

LEGO Cat Island Adventure – a playful game all about meeting and nurturing your relationship with a friendly cat on an island and spending time together. Players need to complete tasks to keep their cat happy, and they’ll let you know if they are not! 

Click To View Gallery Epic Games/The LEGO Group Epic Games/The LEGO Group Epic Games/The LEGO Group Epic Games/The LEGO Group Epic Games/The LEGO Group

Okay, we’re sold on LEGO Cat Island Adventure! I can’t imagine a better Fortnite LEGO Island.

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Hard MTN Dew Baja Blast Mix Packs Return in 2024 and Will Be Available Year-Round

They’re back. Yes, it’s once again time to blast off into the world of Hard MTN Dew Baja Blast and its many flavors. Last year, we enjoyed several out-of-this-world versions of everyone’s favorite drink (but this time, it’s alcoholic). And, in 2024, the Hard MTN Dew Baja Blast is making its triumphant return, but it won’t just be a seasonal drink anymore. Nope, this Mix Pack will now be available to buy year-round in select states. Let’s take a closer look at the flavors, availability, and other details of 2024’s Hard MTN Dew Baja Blast Mix Pack.

Hard MTN Dew Baja Blast Mix Pack’s Four 2024 FlavorsHard MTN Dew

Baja Blast is fabulous in any form. In fact, we can’t wait to try it out as gelato. But there’s a certain perfect wackiness to the Hard MTN Dew version of it. We love the bright colors and fun animal mascots that decorate the cans. In 2024, the Hard MTN Dew Baja Blast Mix Pack will feature the following flavors: Baja Blast, Baja Blast Mango, Baja Blast Pineapple, and Baja Blast Punch.

The Mix Pack contains twelve 12oz cans and offers three cans of each flavor. The official website shares more details about the Baja Blast drink, noting, “MTN DEW lovers of legal drinking age can experience the bold, citrus flavors of the soft drink they know and love with 5% alcohol by volume (ABV). It contains zero caffeine, no added sugar, 2.2g of total carbs, and is 100 calories per 12 oz. serving.”

Hard MTN Dew Baja Blast Mix Packs Now Available Year-Round

In previous years, the Hard MTN Dew Baja Blast Mix Pack was available only as a seasonal offering. But now, it will finally be available for consumers to purchase year-round. What a delightful surprise! Although Hard MTN Dew Baja Blast flavors do have a certain summer vibe to them, we’re sure being able to drink them in wintertime too will help blast away the blues.

Where Can You Buy Hard MTN Dew Baja Blast Variety Packs? Hard MTN Dew

Currently, Hard MTN Dew Baja Blast drinks are available in Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Las Vegas, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming. But the product’s website promises that expanded availability is to come!

The product is not currently available online. But you can find out where to purchase Hard MTN Dew Baja Blast Mix Packs with this physical location product finder.

Other Hard Soda Fun

In celebration of the Hard MTN Dew Baja Blast Mix Pack’s new year-round availability, Hard MTN Dew is trying to blast off into space. It hopes to be the first beverage abducted by aliens. March 20 is Alien Abduction Day, after all. Hard MTN Dew will be streaming all its shenanigans live, so crack open a hard Baja Blast and enjoy.

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ALIEN: ROMULUS’ First Trailer Is Old School Xenomorph Space Horror

What do fictional characters in Alien movies have in common with moviegoers? That’s obvious: they both run when a Xenomorph shows up. The difference is those in the film run away from the iconic space monster while viewers run towards theaters. And the fantastic, intense first teaser trailer for Alien: Romulus shows why that will still be true for the franchise’s ninth big screen installment.

….Hell yeah. And to think, this was originally going to be a Hulu-only release. We certainly can’t imagine that would do it any justice after seeing ths Alien: Romulus trailer. Fortunately, Disney realized this deserves the biggest screen possible.

Walt Disney Studios

This new standalone entry, which the studio describes as a throwback that returns to the Alien franchise to its “roots,” stars Priscilla‘s Cailee Spaeny. It also features David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu. Alien: Romulus comes from director Fede Álvarez. He co-wrote the script with Rodo Sayagues, whose other credits also include Alvarez’s Don’t Breathe and 2013’s Evil Dead.

Walt Disney Studios

Ridley Scott, who serves as an executive producer on the film, more than gave Alien: Romulus his blessing. It probably wouldn’t have happened without him. Álvarez told Scott about his idea for the spinoff years ago. Scott later called him and asked if Álvarez was up for actually making it.

Walt Disney Studios

But what exactly is going on in this story, which is set in the time period between Alien and Aliens? The trailer gives us some idea, but here’s Alien: Romulus‘ official (but brief) synopsis from 20th Century Studios:

While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

This Alien: Romulus trailer alone makes us very happy that Scott and Álvarez met and that Álvarez said yes, but we still want to see the whole movie. We’ll be able to do that when space’s greatest monster goes on the attack once more this summer. Alien: Romulus releases on August 16, 2024.

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Ryan Gosling Is a Movie Stuntman Fighting in the Real World in THE FALL GUY Trailer

Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt didn’t take home Best Supporting acting Oscars at the 2024 Academy Awards. They were still two of the night’s big winners, though. In addition to Gosling’s glorious “I’m Just Ken” performance, the pair stole the show when they came out to honor Hollywood’s stunt performers. That’s when they engaged in some good old-fashioned “Barbenheimer” trash talk that showed just how much natural chemistry they have. But in case you need further proof they’re a perfect duo, the latest trailer for The Fall Guy has provided it in spades. It has plenty of guns, swords, explosions, car crashes, punches right to the face, and laughs.

“A romantic-comedy full of ridiculous stunts starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt” is one of the most bulletproof ideas in recent Hollywood history. But the person behind the film is also a big reason to be excited for this film. It comes from former professional stuntman, director David Leitch (Bullet Train, Deadpool 2). This movie is a tribute to the unsung people who help bring movie magic to life by risking life and limb.

Only in this case, Gosling’s stunt performer will be doing that offscreen. Here’s the film’s official synopsis from Universal Pictures:

Ryan Gosling stars as Colt Seavers, a battle-scarred stuntman who, having left the business a year earlier to focus on both his physical and mental health, is drafted back into service when the star of a mega-budget studio movie—being directed by his ex, Jody Moreno, played by Golden Globe winner Emily Blunt—goes missing. While the film’s ruthless producer (Hannah Waddingham), maneuvers to keep the disappearance of star Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) a secret from the studio and the media, Colt performs the film’s most outrageous stunts while trying (with limited success) to charm his way back into Jody’s good graces. But as the mystery around the missing star deepens, Colt will find himself ensnared in a sinister, criminal plot that will push him to the edge of a fall more dangerous than any stunt.

Eric Laciste/Universal Pictures

The Fall Guy trailer is a wild ride, indeed. The film also stars Winston Duke and Stephanie Hsu, in case the cast wasn’t already talented enough. And the script comes from (Hotel Artemis).

The Fall Guy crashes into theaters May 3. On that night we’ll all be big winners.

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THE NEVERENDING STORY Is Getting New Series of Live-Action Movies

The Neverending Story has a runtime of just one hour and 32 minutes, so it does, in fact, end. But fans of both the movie and the book have never stopped loving it. Now a whole new generation will get to find out why. Author Michael Ende’s classic story is getting ready to return to theaters with a new adaptation. Only this time it’s getting more than a single movie. The Neverending Story is getting an all-new film franchise.

Warner Bros.

Variety reports that after years of searching Michael Ende Productions has finally settled on a partner to bring the late German author’s best-selling book back to the screen. It is partnering with See-Saw Films for a new cinematic series. Even more exciting, they’ll bring the fantasy world of Fantastica to life with multiple movies.

For those who care about the book and its iconic 1984 movie, this is big news. See-Saw Films is behind some critically-acclaimed movies and shows. Its film library includes The Power of the Dog, Widows, Lion, and The King’s Speech. And it’s responsible for TV shows like Slow Horses, Heartbreaker, and Top of the Lake. The Neverending Story franchise will be a different type of production in terms of scope and subject, but they’ll make it alongside Michael Ende Productions. See-Saw’s Iain Canning and Emile Sherman are producing with MEP’s Roman Hocke and Ralph Gassmann.

Warner Bros.

The two groups will now begin the search for a creative team to tell the story of Bastian Balthazar Bux. Until they have their filmmakers it’s impossible to know when the first film will debut, or even exactly how many movies they will produce. But it won’t be hard for a beloved, best-selling book adapted into 45 different languages that has entertained generations of readers and moviegoers alike to find talented people eager to fly with Falkor. Because while books and movies might end, love for The Neverending Story never does.

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Who Is Valerie Cooper in X-MEN ’97? This Deep Cut Marvel Character, Explained

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The first two episodes of X-Men ’97 introduce a bespectacled woman with government ties, presented as an old friend of Charles Xavier’s. She’s Valerie Cooper, and while you may think Marvel created her for the animated series, she actually has a long history in the X-Men comics, going back over 40 years. Here’s the Marvel Comics history of Dr. Valerie Cooper, the mutant community’s enemy-turned (sometimes) friend.

Valerie Cooper’s Introduction in Uncanny X-Men #176Marvel Comics

During Chris Claremont’s run on the X-Men titles in the ‘80s, he introduced us to a character who would play a relatively small but pivotal role in the Marvel universe for several years. Dr. Valerie “Val” Cooper was a National Security Advisor, specializing in superhuman affairs, particularly those of the mutant variety. She actually has a PhD in the study of mutant behavioral patterns. Co-created by artist John Romita Jr., she first appeared in 1983’s Uncanny X-Men #176, shown in a government meeting with Henry Peter Gyrich. Cooper believes mutants are a clear and present danger that the United States government must deal with. At first, she doesn’t appear to be very sympathetic to the mutant cause, but her stance evolves over time.

Freedom Force Becomes Val Cooper’s Government-Sponsored Mutant TeamMarvel Comics

Eventually, the government put Valerie Cooper in charge of creating a government-sponsored mutant team. She recruited Mystique and other former members of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants like Pyro and Avalanche to form the Freedom Force, in exchange for pardons for their crimes. (This predates DC Comics’ similar concept for the Suicide Squad). She even drafted Jessica Carpenter, the second Spider-Woman, into joining this new team, despite not being a mutant herself. During this time, she oversaw the recruitment of John Walker as the new Captain America, before he became US Agent. The two would eventually become romantically involved.

Marvel ComicsVal Cooper Takes Command of X-FactorMarvel Comics

Eventually, most of the members of Freedom Force die on a mission in the Middle East, ending the experiment. After a brief possession by the malevolent Shadow King, during which Mystique impersonated her, Valerie Cooper decided to give the notion of a government-sponsored mutant team another try. For a time, the original five X-Men went under the name X-Factor. When the group returned to the X-Men proper, Cooper formed a new government-sponsored team with that name. Among the recruits were Cyclops’ brother Havok, Polaris, Wolfsbane, Strong Guy, and Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man.

Marvel Comics

Valerie Cooper formed a positive working relationship with X-Factor at first. She even became friends with the members. Yet the partnership strained when they discovered an awful truth she had kept from them. The United States government was working on something called Project: Wideawake, which would reintroduce the mutant-hunting Sentinel robots again. X-Factor was appalled their supervisor and friend would betray them like that. A shamed Val Cooper gave control of the team over to the mutant inventor Forge as a result. Cooper returned to her role in the Commission on Superhuman Activities, often helping the X-Men against her own orders. This was after coming to know them and sympathizing with their plight over her years working with them. However, at times, she had to perform unpleasant duties, like taking Professor X into government custody after the Onslaught incident.

Val Cooper becomes head of the Office of National Emergency, or O.N.E.Marvel Comics

Around the time of M-Day, the catastrophic event when most mutants lost their powers thanks to the Scarlet Witch, Valerie Cooper helped start the Office of National Emergency, or O.N.E. This new department was meant to prepare against superhuman and mutant threats of any kind. Eventually, she climbed up to the role of O.N.E. director. In the aftermath of M-Day, Cooper’s Sentinel Squad O.N.E., which had human pilots, established a refugee camp for mutants. Interestingly, it was located on the grounds of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.

Although ostensibly created for mutant protection, many of these now non-powered mutants felt forced into these refugee camps. Most felt like prisoners there. This caused even further strain between Cooper and the mutant community. X-Factor eventually reformed as a private investigation office specializing in mutant crimes. During this time, Cooper helped out her old employees when she could.

Valerie Cooper in X-Men ’97Marvel Comics/Marvel Animation

X-Men ’97 introduces Valerie Cooper as a United Nations operative. She’s described as an old friend of Charles Xavier’s who is the X-Men’s contact within the government. The United Nations tasks her with apprehending a seemingly reformed Magneto, asking him to stand trial at the UN for his crimes as a mutant terrorist. When the hate group The Friends of Humanity attacks the UN building, hoping to not just kill Magneto but also those holding his trail, Magneto ultimately saves the lives of the entire commission. Seeing his desire to change for real, Valerie Cooper grants Magneto a pardon, allowing him to serve with the X-Men and lead them. We’ll see if Dr. Cooper continues on past these episodes in X-Men ’97. We already know X-Factor exists in this universe. Could Val be working with them? We’re crossing our fingers that X-Men ’97 explores her character further.

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Who Is Sunspot in X-MEN? This Marvel Mutant’s History, Explained

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In the first episode of X-Men ’97, the series introduces us to a new young mutant, Roberto da Costa, a.k.a. Sunspot. As a new guest at Xavier’s School, Roberto fills the role Jubilee did in the original X-Men: The Animated Series pilot episode, as our POV character. Sunspot is a long-standing X-Men hero who was also an Avenger in the Marvel Comics. Here’s everything you need to know about the Brazilian powerhouse mutant known as Sunspot.

Sunspot’s Origin Story in Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics

During a time when Charles Xavier believed his X-Men to be dead, he considered shuttering his school. But he convinces himself that his School For Gifted Youngsters should remain open. However, he believed its third generation of students should train not to fight, but to simply control their powers. This was how writer Chris Claremont and artist Bob McLeod introduced the New Mutants, in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 in 1982. Among that original New Mutants lineup was Roberto da Costa, a young Afro-Brazilian teenager who came from incredible privilege, but also with a potentially deadly power.

Marvel Comics

Roberto, sometimes called Bobby, was the son of an extremely wealthy Afro-Brazilian entrepreneur by the name of Emmanuel da Costa. His father, who came from poverty and built a business empire, constantly pushed his son to his limits. While in high school, he became an exceptional athlete, excelling on the school’s soccer team. He was even eyed for potential Olympic training. However, one day racist bullies attack him, causing his X-gene to activate. He became a being of solid black solar energy, which resulted in incredible physical strength. The crowd, shocked at his appearance, all fled in terror, except for Roberto’s girlfriend, Juliana. Tragically, she later dies taking a bullet meant for Roberto.

Sunspot Joins the New Mutants, and Later, X-ForceMarvel Comics

Roberto joins four other students — Cannonball, Wolfsbane, Mirage, and Karma — as students in Xavier’s School. Dubbed “the New Mutants,” the intent was for them not to become X-Men, merely to hone their talents. Nevertheless, these New Mutants find themselves caught up in all kinds of superheroic adventures. During his time as one of the series leads in New Mutants, Roberto becomes close friends with Samuel Guthrie, a.k.a. Cannonball. The two friends part ways for a time when the warrior Cable reforms the New Mutants into the paramilitary X-Force. After this, Sunspot returns home to Brazil. However, in time, he would eventually join his old teammates as an X-Force member himself.

Marvel ComicsSunspot Joins the Hellfire Club, Later Teaches the Young X-Men

Over the decades, Sunspot pops up in various teams. After a stint on X-Force, he leaves the team when his father dies. Since his father was part of the elite Hellfire Club, he inherited his position and became the Inner Circle’s Black Rook. Later, he becomes the head of the Los Angeles branch of the X-Corporation. X-Corp was a company designed to help civilian mutants around the globe. But when the Scarlet Witch de-powered 98% of Earth’s mutants, the X-Corp was dissolved. After that, Cyclops asked Sunspot and his former teammate Dani Moonstar to train a new generation, dubbed the Young X-Men. Thus bringing Roberto’s journey as an alumnus of Xavier’s School full circle.

Sunspot Becomes an AvengerMarvel Comics

After the events of Avengers vs. X-Men, Roberto and Cannonball are asked by Captain America to join the Avengers. The two accept his offer, and go on many adventures with the team. In fact, Roberto uses his vast wealth to buy the often-villainous think tank Advanced Idea Mechanics, creators of M.O.D.O.K. He transforms it into Avengers Idea Mechanics. As a result, this new iteration of A.I.M. has its own Avengers team, the U.S.Avengers. Roberto leads the team first as Citizen V, and later, renaming himself Citizen X. His BFF Cannonball is along for the ride with each iteration. Sadly, Sunspot dies in the Asgardian War of the Realms. But as with most mutants in the Krakoan age, that is not the end of his story.

Thanks to the Resurrection Protocols of the mutant island of Krakoa, Professor X brings Roberto da Costa back to life, along with every other dead mutant whose psychic essence was stored in Cerebro. He rejoined his original graduating class of students, the New Mutants, for a space adventure to join with Cannonball, who was now living off-world. Eventually, when mutants took over the planet Mars and terraformed it into Arrako, Sunspot moved there, opening up a bar called the Red Lagoon. He would eventually return to Earth, however.

Sunspot’s Mutant Powers and Abilities, ExplainedMarvel Comics

Originally, Sunspot could only absorb solar radiation and turn that power into super strength. His body becomes pitch black when he does this, as he drains all the ambient light from his skin. He had the equivalent strength of 2 tons, eventually expanding to 50 tons. When the immortal mutant Gideon experimented on him, he exposed him to more solar radiation, which gave Roberto the power to fly by generating thermal updrafts, and also the ability to project solar blasts. Although super strong, he’s not invulnerable, although he can take a heavy beating. He is immune to all forms of heat and fire, and any attacks on him with heat weapons only increase his strength. When in powered-up mode, Sunspot can even survive the vacuum of space, as his solar energy will sustain him.

Sunspot in X-Men: Days of Future Past, New Mutants, and X-Men: EvolutionTwentieth Century Films

In the X-Men live-action film franchise, Sunspot played a small role as one of the rebel mutants in 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past, portrayed by Adan Canto. In 2020’s The New Mutants, he’s a principal character, played by Henry Zaga, a young mutant traumatized by accidentally killing his girlfriend. Although not appearing in the original X-Men: The Animated Series, they showed Sunspot as one of the New Mutants recruits in X-Men: Evolution. These castings all came with some controversy, as none were Afro-Brazilian actors. Even the voice actor for his character in X-Men ’97, Gui Agustini, while Brazilian, is Caucasian.

Sunspot’s Future in X-Men ’97[image error]Marvel Comics/Marvel Animation

In X-Men ’97, the mutant-hating group The Friends of Humanity kidnaps teenage Roberto da Costa. The X-Men rescue him, and although at first reluctant to join Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, he strikes up a friendship with Jubilee. In this iteration, Roberto’s parents don’t know about his mutant powers, and he’s hoping they don’t find out. It remains to be seen if Sunspot becomes a fully-fledged X-Man by the time the first season of X-Men ’97 finishes up, or if we’ll have to wait till season two to see him in a superhero uniform battling Sentinels and other X-Men foes.

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Jake Gyllenhaal’s ROAD HOUSE Is a Remake Worthy of the Original

The thing you have to understand about the original 1989 Road House is that Patrick Swayze ripped a guy’s throat out with his barehand. That’s what we call a “legacy.” It’s a legacy that means something. Any remake of a movie that entertaining and memorable is in for a real fight. Considering Amazon opted not to give Doug Liman’s new take starring Jake Gyllenhaal a theatrical release, it seemed likely the director lost his reboot battle. But fans of the franchise know looks can be deceiving, like how the calmest guy in a bar brawl can also be the toughest. Liman actually adds to Road House‘s legacy with this remake starring Jake Gyllenhaal. He delivered an incredibly fun movie that honors the original film while still standing on its own.

Diehard fans of the original Road House—a group I very much belong to—will recognize how many of the same exact plot points this new version also hits. The film features the terrorization of friendly locals by a corrupt businessman. It has way-too-talented bands that play behind a wire cage at a bar that simultaneously seems like both the most fun and most dangerous in the world. There’s also a beautiful doctor (Daniela Melchior) who falls for the hero. A lot of the character names are odes to the old Road House, because the new one is essentially the same story.

Of course, that’s only fitting. The 1989 film was itself another entry in the long line of “badass outsider comes to a corrupt town to clean things up” genre. This latest version exemplifies why that concept will always and forever be a bulletproof concept. At least it is when done well, and this is Road House is done incredibly well.

Prime Video

Liman’s film—which helps differentiate itself by moving the setting from dusty Missouri to the beautiful Key West coastline—features fantastic fight sequences. They feel fresh and original. Some seamlessly change perspective mid-punching so you go from watching it to feeling like you’re in it, but without losing your sense of place. The fisticuffs are also much more violent than the original. Getting punched in the face has rarely looked so brutal on screen.

The movie’s mostly diegetic soundtrack, provided by the bar’s bands, also perfectly enhances the manic energy that drives the action sequences. The movie literally rocks while literally kicking ass. And even with all the fighting, Road House is genuinely funny, moving, and cathartic at times This is, foremost, a very fun, very entertaining film like the original, just with a little less cheesiness. (Not that it lacks any cheese, thankfully. There’s an especially hysterical Chekhov’s Gun.) It’s that even among all the silliness it manages to deliver meaningful characterization and pathos. It is Road House combined with The Quiet Man. I know that sounds absurd—because it is—but it works.

The fun story and action wouldn’t matter if not for the film’s lead. Jake Gyllenhaal has nearly impossible shoes to fill as this generation’s Dalton. Patrick Swayze’s character is one of the coolest characters in movie history. Patrick Swayze himself is also one of the coolest actors in history. You can’t try to out-Swayze Swayze in arguably his most iconic role. And Liman and Gyllenhaal wisely didn’t try to do that. Instead they deliver a Dalton who shares the best traits with his predecessor while still being a very different character.

Gyllenhaal’s Elwood Dalton is a much sadder figure than Swayze’s character. He’s a former UFC star tortured by his past. It’s very obvious what he did even before the film confirms what happened. It’s a another plot point from the 1989 character’s history, but it matters far more this time around. What this Dalton did was far more awful than what Swayze’s character was haunted by. It’s why rather than an easy, suave John Dalton swagger, Gyllenhaal’s Elwood has the energy and presence of a big kind dog you don’t want to mess with. That’s the biggest, most important change in the film. It’s why this feels different even though its so familiar otherwise.

Prime Video

This new version of the character is still cool in his own way. He’s also likable and doesn’t actually like violence. Except, he’s clearly more unhinged than the original Dalton. Gyllenhaal isn’t a professional bouncer. He’s a world-class fighter who knows exactly what happens when he snaps. There’s something wrong with him and, unless he keeps that version of himself in check, bad things happen. It’s why he doesn’t actually want to hurt people, let alone kill them. He just wants to do his job and help out his nice new co-workers and desperate boss Frankie (played by the always great Jessica Williams).

Unfortunately for Dalton he’s come to a place that inevitability forces him to become the dangerous warrior he is. Local nepo baby Ben Brandt needs to buy the The Road House (actual bar name). It’s the last property standing in the way of his extravagant new resort. With Frankie refusing to sell the unstable Brandt, hired goons to force the issue by causing chaos at the bar. That’s why Frankie recruits Dalton, a man seemingly made of marble and blood, to keep her in business.

Prime Video

Every great hero needs a great villain, and that’s exactly what Billy Magnussen offers Gyllenhaal. He’s truly detestable as the scene-chewing Brandt. And because he’s playing a failson he also feels very different than Ben Gazzara’s Brad Wesley in the original movie, even though they fill the same role. It’s another example of how Liman and the script find the right balance between old and new.

Less great is actual UFC fighter Conor McGregor. He plays a dangerous sociopath Knox hired by Brandt’s imprisoned dad. McGregor certainly looks the part of someone capable of taking on Dalton. And he more than handles the action scenes. But he struggles anytime he needs to say more than five words in a row. Considering how well acted the movie is otherwise, his issues with dialogue stand out almost as much as his naked ass, which makes multiple prolonged appearances.

But outside of some act three issues when the movie gets dangerously close to cartoonish action, there’s very little to complain about. Even the UFC element that I was most skeptical about going in to the movie works. The result is a Road House movie in the best way. I couldn’t sleep when it ended I was so fired up. I wanted to rewatch it the second it was over. And I want to rewatch it a thousand times like I have the first film. (I’d also like to play the soundtrack on a loop while driving down the highway.)

Doug Lima’s Road House doesn’t merely justify its existence as a remake. Nor does it only justify why it absolutely deserved a theatrical release. (Not getting to see this in a theater with others is absurd.) It justifies casting a new Dalton every generation. I was worried about how this film would compare to the original. Now I want a new Road House every couple decades at least. That might not be as impressive as ripping a guy’s throat out with your barehand, but it’s still a legacy to be proud of.

Road House ⭐ (4 of 5)

Road House also stars Joaquim de Almeida, Lukas Gage, Arturo Castro, B.K. Cannon, Beau Knapp, Darren Barnet, and Dominique Columbus. It debuts on Prime Video on March 21, 2024.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist who never gets tired of watching cool dudes beat up bad dudes in movies. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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