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ENTERTAINMENT

Jake Gyllenhaal said SXSW has a joyful spirit during 'Road House' premiere

Kelsey Bradshaw
Austin American-Statesman

A reimagining of the 1989 Patrick Swayze film "Road House" opened South by Southwest's Film Festival Friday night and it had everything: muscles, great music, beaches, an alligator, fist fights, laughs and more.

"Donnie Darko" actor Jake Gyllenhaal takes on the character of Elwood Dalton, who in this iteration, is a former UFC fighter who makes his way to the Florida Keys to run security at a beach club. (The new version does not follow the original exactly, but we don't want to spoil too much.)

Jake Gyllenhaal speaks to press on the red carpet before the premiere of Road House at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas on the first day of South by Southwest, Friday, March 8, 2024. Gyllenhaal plays the character "Dalton" in the movie.

We caught up with the cast, which includes actual UFC fighter Conor McGregor and rapper Post Malone, ahead of the movie's premiere and had a blast.

Gyllenhaal told us why he thought SXSW was the festival to bring the new version of "Road House" to.

"We all want to feel joy and I think SXSW has that spirit," Gyllenhaal said.

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The American-Statesman's red carpet team loves to ask actors and the like where they've gone out to eat during their visit to Austin, or if they have a favorite spot when they come to town. We stumped Gyllenhaal — Austin has just too many yummy spots.

"This is the only city that people really ask me that. That and Paris. I have to think about that," he said.