Former MMA champion Ronda Rousey has revealed her reasons for not participating in the “Road House” remake, a project that eventually saw Conor McGregor take a role. Rousey, who was initially slated to star, explained to Complex that the primary factor was the script’s quality, or rather, the lack thereof.
Rousey emphasized the critical role of a well-developed script in filmmaking, stating, “I think the script is so important. We just never got a script that was 100% there.” She believes that rushing a project with an inadequate script is a common cause for the creation of subpar movies.
To ensure the integrity of her potential involvement, Rousey sought advice from Lisa Niemi, the widow of Patrick Swayze, the star of the original “Road House.” Niemi, who also appeared in the 2024 remake, cautioned Rousey to “make sure it doesn’t suck,” a sentiment Rousey found to be a significant pressure, admitting she never reached a point where she felt confident the project would avoid that outcome.
By the time script issues remained unresolved, the film industry had progressed with multiple “Road House” remakes in various stages of development or completion, making another iteration feel redundant. Instead of forcing a project that didn’t meet her standards, Rousey shifted her focus to future opportunities.
During the interview, Rousey also highlighted a perceived gap in action cinema: the absence of a film featuring two women who are proficient both on camera and in fighting. She expressed interest in a potential collaboration with fellow MMA athlete Gina Carano, who has demonstrated her on-screen capabilities in productions like “Haywire” and “The Mandalorian.”
Regarding the 2024 “Road House” film, Rousey admitted to only watching portions due to her responsibilities as a mother to two young children. She noted that her movie-watching habits are now dominated by animated films for her children, making it difficult to catch up on new releases.
Rousey’s comments precede her return to MMA, where she is scheduled to face Gina Carano in the main event of MVP MMA 1 on May 16. The fight, which will be Netflix’s first live MMA broadcast, marks Rousey’s first MMA bout in nearly a decade and a significant crossover clash between two prominent figures in the sport.
