Mark Wahlberg

Ronda Rousey to Star in Remake of Cult Patrick Swayze Movie ‘Road House'

The UFC women's bantamweight champion will reprise Patrick Swayze's starring role.

Reigning UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey is no stranger to the silver screen, having played roles in “The Expendables 3” and “Furious 7,” as well as playing herself in the film version of “Entourage.” And soon she will be able to add "lead" to her short-but-growing acting résumé.

Rousey, 28, will reprise Patrick Swayze's starring role in a remake of “Road House,” the 1989 cult classic film, according to MMAFighting.com. In the original movie, Swayze played a bouncer who saves a small Missouri town from a corrupt business magnate.

"It is a great honor to play a part in celebrating the life of a man that inspired so many," Rousey said in a statement on Twitter. "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 friends can be proud of."

MGM is in charge of the remake, and Rousey's agent said the studio selected Rousey for the role, but a screenplay has not yet been written. Rousey reportedly reached out to Swayze’s widow, Lisa Niemi, for approval and received her blessing. Swayze died of pancreatic cancer in 2009.

MGM is currently meeting with screenwriters, and production is set to begin in 2016, according to Variety. The remake will follow MGM's reboot of another classic film: The “Rocky” spinoff “Creed” will arrive in theaters in November.

Rousey will also star in next year’s film “Mile 22,” alongside Mark Wahlberg, as well as in a biopic of her book “My Fight/Your Fight.” 

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