Ke Huy Quan Becomes a 'Badass' Leading Man in Action-PackedLove HurtsTrailer (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

After a career of iconic supporting roles and stunt work behind the camera,Ke Huy Quanis finally leading his own action-comedy flick.

Love Hurtsstars Quan, 54, as “an unlikely hero, a seemingly mild-mannered realtor with a dark secret,” per a synopsis from Universal Pictures. As the newly released trailer reveals, his secret packs a punch.

“I always fantasized about being the number one on the call sheet or putting myself in the shoes of the leading man,” Quan tells PEOPLE, adding thatLove Hurtsis “the perfect movie” to do so.

“I never thought that I would one day be the lead actor in a major studio picture. So it is an incredible feeling.”

Ke Huy Quan in “Love Hurts”.Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures

TheEverything Everywhere All at Oncestar plays sunny Milwaukee realtor Marvin Gable, “thrust back into a world of ruthless hitmen, filled with double-crosses and open houses turned into deadly warzones,” per the synopsis.

“When I first read the script, I was very confused,” says Quan. “Even though I thought it was a good script, I thought it was written for somebody else. In fact, I even said, ‘You guys should be callingJason Statham, not me.’ ”

Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose in “Love Hurts”.Universal Pictures

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But speaking to Eusebio and husband-and-wife producing teamDavid Leitchand Kelly McCormick, Quan “realized that what they were trying to create was a new kind of action star, not what we have been accustomed to in the last few decades,” he explains.

“They wanted someone who can have a range, who’s not afraid to be vulnerable,” he adds. “And at the same time, he doesn’t look like a badass until the situation calls for it.”

TheLove Hurtstrailer offers glimpses of Quan both playing that vulnerability and showcasing the badass skills he honed for years working as an action choreographer with the likes ofX-MenstarHugh Jackman.

In fact, he says, watching pro costars likeIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’sHarrison FordorEverything Everywhere’sMichelle Yeohprepared him for his first major leading-man moment.

“When I finally got this incredible opportunity, I remember I tried to bring on set what they brought to set when they were number one,” Quan says. “I learned from the best.”

With a grin, he adds, “This was always what I wanted, and I can’t believe this is happening to me!”

Ke Huy Quan and Marshawn Lynch in “Love Hurts”.Universal Pictures

As for his newest costar, DeBose, 33, Quan says joining this movie with theWest Side Storystar was something of a full-circle moment.

They met during awards season in the lead-up toEverything Everywhere’s domination of the2023 Academy Awards, he recalls. “I will never forgetthe moment when she opened the envelopeand she said, ‘And the Oscar goes to…’ and she announced my name with such emotion,” he recalls. “I think I loved her from that moment on.”

After accepting the trophy, he says, “I went up to give [her] a big hug, and I said, ‘Ari, I would love to work with you.’ And little did I know, my first movie after the Oscar isLove Hurts!”

Love Hurts, also starringMarshawn Lynch, Mustafa Shakir, Cam Gigandet and Quan’sGooniescostarSean Astin, is in theaters Feb. 7.

source: people.com