Conor McGregor claims he has ‘a few enemies’ in Hollywood after ‘rejecting top directors who pitched roles at his fight camps’, as UFC star prepares to make big screen debut with Jake Gyllenhaal
- Conor McGregor starred in the Roadhouse reboot with Jake Gyllenhaal
- He revealed that he had been offered numerous film projects before but turned them down
- McGregor says he thinks he has enough enemies in Hollywood if he says no
Conor McGregor believes he ‘has a few enemies’ in Hollywood after turning down a number of film proposals in the past.
The UFC superstar will make his big screen debut on March 21 when his remake of Road House starring Jake Gyllenhaal is released.
Breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier gave him the recovery time to film and the Irishman, who is still waiting for a date for his UFC comeback, cast himself in the role.
In 2016, he was announced to be in xXx: The Return of Zander Cage, but then dropped out after losing to Nate Diaz.
DJ Caruso was the director and said he was ‘really p****d’ at the time. And McGregor alluded to the fact that Caruso wouldn’t be the only person in Hollywood who would be mad at him.
Conor McGregor is set to make his big screen debut with Jake Gyllenhaal
He told Total Film: ‘I had turned down quite a few roles during my time on the climb.
“There were directors showing up at fight camp, really nice directors who were making really top films… and over and over again they came to me, and I always turned them down.
“I would leave people a little high and dry. I probably have some enemies that I don’t really know because I said, ‘Maybe I will.’
Ultimately, Michael Bisping took his place in xXx and there is a lot of fascination surrounding the Road House remake.
McGregor relished the chance to experience a new domain, saying, “I was just in awe of this whole process, to be honest.
‘I didn’t know how to handle it. To be honest, I didn’t know if I would like it. I’m a fighting man. That’s my bread and butter. It’s where I come from.
‘I’m not an actor, but I’m show business. That was my vibe. I felt that. I enjoyed every second of it.’
This summer marks three years since McGregor last competed in the UFC, his ‘bread and butter’, as he calls it.
Gyllenhaal filmed part of the movie in front of a live UFC audience during a press conference
McGregor says he must have angered some directors in Hollywood who wanted him
His return has been repeatedly postponed, apparently by his paymasters, with the former two-weight champion now expected to return in the fall, according to Dana White.
The UFC is hosting its first event at The Las Vegas Sphere in September, which could coincide nicely with those plans.
He’s still expected to face Michael Chandler when he returns, although Nate Diaz threw his hat in the ring this week and said he wants to fight at the flashy new venue.