SXSW 2024: Dominique Columbus Talks ‘Road House,’ His Collaboration with the Star-Studded Cast and Crew, Inspiring Others Through Action, and More

Dominique Columbus stands out as one of the brightest emerging talents in the industry. With a remarkable ability to embody diverse characters, he has secured coveted roles in acclaimed projects such as Ray Donovan, In the Vault, and NCIS. This March, anticipation builds as he and the ensemble cast of the thrilling action-packed film Road House prepare to kick off SXSW in style.

Road House features Jake Gyllenhaal as Dalton, an ex-UFC fighter striving to distance himself from his tumultuous past and violent tendencies in this heart-pounding adrenaline rush. Dalton, living on the edge of his reputation, catches the eye of Frankie (Jessica Williams), the proprietor of a roadhouse in the picturesque Florida Keys. She recruits him as her new bouncer in a bid to thwart a violent gang, under the command of crime boss Brandt (Billy Magnussen), from wreaking havoc on her cherished establishment. Even when outnumbered, Dalton’s expertise proves unmatched against Brandt’s henchmen. However, the arrival of ruthless mercenary Knox (Conor McGregor) escalates the conflict to deadly levels, revealing that the tranquil Keys harbor dangers far greater than the octagon ever did. Dominique shines as Reef, a seasoned boxer driven by loyalty to safeguard his friends.

Pop Culturalist had the privilege of chatting with Dominique about his pivotal role in Road House, his dedication to inspiring others through his craft, collaborating with an illustrious cast and crew, and much more.

PC: Road House is a reimagining of the 1989 cult classic. How does this film build on that legacy while also bringing something new for audiences who may be discovering this story for the first time?
Dominique: This film pays a lot of homage to the original but still manages to bring a fresh energy that would resonate with today’s time.

PC: Reef is an experienced boxer, which feels like a full-circle moment and a return to home for you, having spent over a decade training in boxing. How did that physicality allow you to tap into this character? What else about Reef resonated with you?
Dominique: It’s definitely nice to tap into the action lane with my background experience. I feel like it’s what gives me an advantage over other actors. When it comes to Reef, he’s a person who will step up and have his friends’ backs at all costs, and that’s what I resonated with the most. He has no fear and is willing to step up to the plate regardless of the challenge in front of him.

PC: Throughout your career, you’ve jumped seamlessly between film and TV. In television, you’re learning more and more about your character as the series goes on, but in film, you know where your character starts and ends. How different are those experiences from an actor’s perspective as well as in the character development process?
Dominique: To be honest, I never saw it as a separate thing. My process and preparation for both TV and film are the same. TV shows nowadays feel like episodic movies, so the way I approach them is consistent. I show up prepared and ready to deliver something fresh to the role.

PC: There is such a star-studded cast, yourself included, attached to this project. What did you learn from working with these veterans that you’ll now be able to bring to future projects?
Dominique: I’ve been blessed to work with veterans at this level for much of my career, so for me, every time I get another opportunity to work with a veteran, I focus on what to do and what not to do. My favorite thing about the cast was our chemistry; that energy made the process so fun to be a part of. So being able to replicate that energy in other productions in the future is something I want to continue carrying forward.

PC: You’ve always had such an affinity for action films. What was it like getting to collaborate with director Doug Liman, who has built such an illustrious tenure in this genre?
Dominique: It was a massive blessing. Doug really inspired me on set; he was extremely meticulous with how he shot this project. He’s a legend in what he does; his track record speaks for itself. So being able to work and build with him was an amazing experience. It was hard for me to leave the set at times because I wanted to watch how things were being shot. It felt like a school session.

PC: This being your first action film, did anything surprise you about the experience? What was the biggest takeaway?
Dominique: The biggest surprise was how they filmed the fight scenes with us; there’s a reason why the punches look so real. Working with Connor [McGregor] on our fight scene was really dope though. Figuring out what the dance was and getting the timing right was easy for us to execute. So that process was one of my favorite moments.

PC: As an actor, you’ve made it your mission to show people what’s possible through your actions. What does it mean to you to have Road House make its world premiere at SXSW?
Dominique: I’m extremely thankful! At the end of the day, I’m just excited for people to see the film, and I’m blessed to be a part of such an iconic project.

PC: Outside of Road House, you also created the Inspire to Inspire podcast, and you had your co-star Billy Magnussen on it as well. How did this podcast series come to fruition? How have these conversations that you’ve had inspired your work on screen?
Dominique: This is my way of servicing my acting and filmmaking community. I truly believe that when you do what you love, you are leading by example, and you become an inspiration to those around you because it inspires them to do the same in what they want to do in life. Everything that I do as an actor and filmmaker is to inspire the next wave to create what they want. I want to be another example of why it’s important to stick to the vision.

To keep up with Dominique, follow him on Instagram. Road House makes its world premiere at SXSW on March 8th at 6PM at the Paramount Theatre and on Prime Video on March 21st.

Photo Credit: Amanda Ramon