Bitter Barfight Over Road House Sequel Rights Erupts Between Amazon MGM and Director Doug Liman

In a surprising turn of events, a bitter dispute has erupted between Amazon MGM and director Doug Liman over the rights to the Road House franchise. Liman, who directed a successful Road House remake for Amazon Prime in 2023, has quietly acquired the sequel rights to the 1989 original film. He plans to move forward with his own sequel, titled Road House: Dylan, written by the original film's scribe R. Lance Hill.

However, Amazon MGM has already begun production on their own Road House 2, with a new director at the helm. This sets up a legal battle over the ownership of the franchise, with the original writer Hill claiming he has reclaimed the rights under the U.S. Copyright Act. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how studios handle rights to older works.

Amidst this drama, actor David Oyelowo is celebrating the endowment of two scholarships to the prestigious LAMDA drama school in London. Oyelowo, who credits a LAMDA scholarship for launching his own career, hopes these new awards will help diversify the pipeline of talent entering the entertainment industry. With the current climate shifting away from diversity and inclusion initiatives, Oyelowo emphasizes the importance of continued investment in the next generation of underrepresented artists.