McGregor dominated the mixed martial arts scene between 2015 and 2018 when he became the first UFC fighter to hold championship belts in two different weight categories, featherweight and lightweight, however, it was his -off-ring persona and mass commercial appeal that turned into one of the world’s highest-paid athletes. It’s precisely his popularity that got him inside the ring with boxing G.O.A.T. Floyd Mayweather; what makes YouTuber turned pro athlete Jake Paul want to fight him; and, why he now looks bound for Hollywood.
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As Deadline reports, McGregor will join the cast of Road House in the Dominican Republic when the film starts shooting next month, and it’s been confirmed he will not be playing himself, but instead a completely original character. McGregor’s addition seems rather fitting since the Road House remake will follow Gyllenhaal’s character, a former UFC fighter turned bouncer, with sources saying McGreggor was actually quite enthusiastic about the film after watching the original.
McGregor is far from the only UFC veteran who’s later jumped into acting, with some of the more notable examples being Randy Couture (The Expendables), Ronda Rousey (Furious 7 and Charlie’s Angels), and Gina Carano before being ousted from The Mandalorian. More recently, welterweight champion Kamaru Usman was cast in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in a still undisclosed role, thus proving the gap between the octagon and Hollywood is not that big for the sport’s top talent.
Road House won’t be the first time McGregor steps into unknown territory, as he’s already impressed boxing experts when he fought Mayweather and has also done several commercials. The move makes it only a matter of time before other champs turn to acting, that is unless one counts Francis Ngannou’s film credits in Jackass Forever.
Road House is currently in development.
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Source: Deadline
