Finally, Ke Huy Quan gets to lead his own action movie. The beloved icon took the screen by storm decades ago in Temple of Doom and The Goonies. He slid behind the camera for a long time, but the power of near-universal love has lifted him to new heights. In a featurette for his upcoming film Love Hurts, he stated, “Me? Like being #1 on the call sheet starring in a Universal Studios movie? I didn’t think that would ever happen.” Thankfully, he thought wrong.
It seems fitting that Quan would get his first starring role with a director like Jonathan Eusebio. They’re both excellent stunt performers and coreographers who finally made it into more celebrated roles. Producer David Leitch, of John Wick and Atomic Blonde, certainly loves that story as he experienced it as well. This is a movie by stunt performers for stunt enjoyers, and Quan should feel right at home.
Ke Huy Quan Is “A Different Kind of Action Star”
In a featurette for Love Hurts, Ke Huy Quan discussed the feeling of finally taking on his first starring role. He expressed disbelief when he saw the film’s script and his place on the call sheet. Quan even jokes that they “should be calling Jason Statham.” The 53-year-old actor explained that he saw his character, Marvin Gable, as “a different kind of action star.” Quan highlights his emotional vulnerability while also celebrating the work he put in to pull off the extensive fight scenes. His long training sessions appear in the footage, where he notes that he intends to do all the fighting himself. Producer David Leitch highlights Quan’s background as a stunt performer as a huge asset. Watching Quan completely nail his stage fights and deliver jokes for the camera really sells his earnest love of the art form.
Everyone knows Ke Huy Quan’s journey by now. He’s an icon who spent 19 years behind the camera doing fight choreography and action direction. Quan worked extensively with Hong Kong legend Corey Yuen on movies like X-Men and The One. In 2018, he started looking for a way back into the spotlight. He found the Daniels, who immediately tapped him for Everything Everywhere All at Once, the role that would relaunch him into stardom. He’s stellar in the role, delivering one of the most heartbreaking movie moments of the decade. Since then, Ke Huy Quan has been unstoppable. He appeared in central roles in a couple of big Disney+ series, but he’s finally on his way to his first real starring role. Not unlike his Encino Man co-star, Brendan Fraser, Quan won much of his new fame on sheer likability. He’s a massive talent who everyone happens to love.
Love Hurts seems like a solid project for Ke Huy Quan, but his #1 position on the call sheet was a matter of time. This was the natural trajectory for a natural star like Quan. My hope is that this turns into a more wide-reaching revival. His own comedic take on the John Wick format is perfect, but it’s not enough. Let Quan pop up in every genre; we have a lot of lost time to make up for.
