“I’ve Been Conditioned To Think That Someone Like Me Cannot Be An Action Hero”: Ke Huy Quan Explains How He Became An Action Hero In New Movie Love Hurts

Thanks to a little help from a friend, Ke Huy Quan steps into leading actor territory with the new Valentine’s Day action thriller Love Hurts. The movie is the feature directorial debut of Jonathan “JoJo” Eusebio, who has an impressive pedigree in the action genre nonetheless, having worked in the stunt department on projects including The Fall Guy, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. Love Hurts tells the story of hitman-turned-realtor Marvin Gable (Quan), who reunites with a former partner only to discover their lives are on the line.

Love Hurts continues Quan’s long-deserved rise to stardom after 2022’s Everything Everywhere All at Once returned the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom actor to the spotlight, even earning him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Since then, Quan has been quite busy with appearances in projects including American Born Chinese, Loki, and Kung Fu Panda 4. Love Hurts is the actor’s first starring role since his Academy Award, however, and lets the actor demonstrate his action movie prowess before he stars in the horror movie Bad Boy.

ScreenRant’s Joe Deckelmeier spoke with Ke Huy Quan about Quan’s work on Love Hurts. Quan discussed becoming number one on the call sheet and revealed the surprising influence legendary director Steven Spielberg had on his decision to take on the role. Plus, Quan reveals which action hero he’d like to sell a home to if he were truly a real estate agent like his Love Hurts character Marvin Gable.

Ke Huy Quan Reveals The Impact Steven Spielberg Had On His Decision To Join Love Hurts

“I’ve Been Conditioned To Think That Someone Like Me Cannot Be An Action Hero”

Ke Huy Quan as Marvin looking concerned standing in his living room in Love Hurts

ScreenRant: When you first read the script, you joked that this film should go to Jason Statham. Now that you’re a leading man, well-deserving by the way, a leading man, in a major action film, what does it mean to you to break the mold?

Ke Huy Quan: It’s pretty incredible. Like you said, when I read the script, I could not imagine myself not only as Marvin Gable, but more specifically as the number one on the call sheet, because that was something I was not used to. I quickly realized, “Wow, I’ve been conditioned to think that someone like me cannot be an action hero.”

In fact, I had to reach out to my favorite filmmaker of all time, Spielberg, who was so gracious for this time. I said, “Hey, they just offered me this role. What do you think? It’s a leading role. It’s a Universal Studios picture. It’s theatrical release. It’s from 87North.” He heard it, and very quickly he said, “Ke, it sounds great. You should do this.”

To have that confirmation from him, I realized, “Wow,” and then I started looking at it from a different lens. And, of course, going in and meeting with our producers and our director, Jojo, very quickly I realized, “Yes, you don’t quite fit the mold, but we’re creating a new mode for you.” And that’s what’s so exciting. You don’t need to fit the mold. It’s, “come on, guys, let’s create new molds.”

Quan Waxes On The Meaning Behind Love Hurts & What He’d Do If He Were A Realtor

“When You Truly Love Someone, Getting A Little Hurt Is Expected”

Ke Huy Quan's Marvin laying on a counter about to fight in Love Hurts

And that’s what I love about this movie. Now, the тιтle, Love Hurts, suggests heartbreak and pain go hand-in-hand. In your own words, what does Love Hurts mean to you?

Ke Huy Quan: Well, when you truly love someone, getting a little hurt is expected, but that should not keep you away from having the courage to go all-in and really give your heart to someone who you truly admire. For me, I am a very lucky man. [It was] 22 years ago when I met my wife. Throughout the year, Valentine’s Day is a day that I really look forward to because I get to show her how much I love her. We always spend it by going out to a nice dinner and to the movie theater. And over the years it’s always romantic comedy, so it’s kind of refreshing to have a Valentine’s action movie.

I love it. Now, your character has to navigate the ᴅᴇᴀᴅly world of real estate. If Marvin had to sell a house to any action star, past or present, who would it be and why?

Ke Huy Quan: Oh wow. That’s a great question. Who would it be and why? Okay, you got to throw some names out for me. I’m drawing a blank.

Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, The Rock, the list goes on and on… Chris Hemsworth…

Ke Huy Quan: Can I be greedy? Yeah, I’d take them all. As a real estate agent, what you want to do is to sell as many homes as possible, so why limit yourself? And all those names that you mentioned—they’re all greats. So, if I’m a real estate agent and I can sell a home to any one of those names, I would be so proud.

About Love Hurts

Marvin Gable, a realtor, is drawn back into his criminal past after receiving a message from a former partner he thought was ᴅᴇᴀᴅ. Now hunted by his crime lord brother, Knuckles, he must confront the consequences of his past and the history he never fully escaped.

Check out our other Love Hurts interviews here: