Mixed martial-arts fighter Ronda Rousey has already proven herself a dominant force in the ring, and now she appears to have her sights set on the screen, too.
The current UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion will reportedly star in a remake of the 1989 action film Road House, playing a female version of Patrick Swayze’s character in the original film.
Related: Ronda Rousey biopic will star none other than the UFC champion herself
Rousey’s involvement with the film was initially reported by Variety, and the fighter later confirmed the news on Twitter.
http://t.co/hVA44maR3h pic.twitter.com/YakdrFHSGv
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) September 9, 2015
“It is a great honor to play a part in celebrating the life of a man that inspired so many,” wrote Rousey. “I couldn’t be more grateful to have this opportunity to pay respect to the beloved Patrick Swayze … I promise to work incessantly to make sure this project is a tribute his family and fans can be proud of.”
The original film was directed by Rowdy Herrington and cast Swayze as a bouncer hired to turn a rowdy bar in Missouri into a more respectable establishment. Along the way, he runs afoul of a local businessman played by Ben Gazzara while also developing a romantic relationship with a doctor played by Kelly Lynch. Sam Elliott played a supporting role in the film as a mentor and friend of Swayze’s character.
While the original film didn’t perform well in theaters and was largely panned by critics, it eventually caught on in the home-video market and developed a cult following in later years. A straight-to-video sequel was released in 2006.
Production on the Road House remake with Rousey is expected to begin next year, and the studio is currently seeking a screenwriter for the project.
As for Rousey, the champion fighter has gradually made a career for herself on the big screen with recent roles in The Expendables 3 and Furious 7, as well as a cameo (playing herself) in the Entourage movie released earlier this year. She’ll also play herself in a big-screen adaptation of her autobiography, My Fight/Your Fight.
There’s currently no release date set for the Road House remake.
