Jack Quaid’s 2025 started on the right foot with his role in the horror movie Companion, which shows that his upcoming action movie is going to be even better. Jack Quaid is no newcomer, making his film debut in The Hunger Games as Marvel (he, unfortunately, is the one who killed Rue), but his big break arrived when he was cast in the superhero TV series The Boys. In 2022, Quaid earned a spot in the horror genre when he played Richie Kirsh in Scream, and he recently revisited the genre in Companion.
Written and directed by Drew Hancock, Companion follows Iris (Sophie Thatcher), who goes on a weekend getaway with her boyfriend Josh (Quaid) and their friends. However, the weekend takes a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly turn, and some sinister plans are quickly revealed. Josh is charming yet incredibly manipulative, gaslighting not only Iris but his friends too, and he knows well how to play the victim. Quaid’s performance brings innocence at first and ends up turning very sinister and unsettling, showing his acting range – and this is what makes his next movie, Novocaine, so exciting.
Novocaine Looks Like An Awesome Action Movie For Jack Quaid That Leans Into His Strengths
Novocaine Will Let Jack Quaid Shine
Jack Quaid’s next project following the success of Companion is Novocaine, an action comedy directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen. Novocaine follows Nathan Caine (Quaid), an introverted young man with a rare condition that makes him unable to feel pain. When his girlfriend, Shari (Amber Midthunder), is taken hostage when the bank they work at is robbed, Nathan seizes his painless condition to rescue her, but it will be a wilder mission than he anticipated. The first trailer for Novocaine gives a good idea of the type of action and comedy the audience can expect, which is a winning combination for Quaid.
Quaid rose to fame with his performance as Hughie Campbell in The Boys, in which, through four seasons, he has shown his skills for comedy and action, with Hughie going from a normal guy to having superpowers and other unusual abilities. Hughie is also more on the heroic (although chaotic) side, as is Nathan in Novocaine, though the latter’s secret weapon is a medical condition rather than something from a vial. Novocaine is a perfect project for Quaid, who will keep showing his comedic skills and action-star abilities, while he also returns to the side of heroes after Companion.
I’m Ready For Another Jack Quaid Hero Character After His Companion Villain
After Companion, A Return To The Side Of Heroes Is Needed
Quaid’s character in Companion isn’t the typical villain in the sense of an outstandingly evil person with lots of power – what made Josh so terrifying is that he’s a normal guy, the type you can meet anywhere. Quaid perfectly brought that subtlety needed in the first minutes of Companion, during which the audience is meant to like Josh, only to show his true colors minutes later. Quaid just proved that he can play a villain, but I’m ready to see him as a fun and chaotic hero again.
As good as his villain in Companion was, Quaid is better suited as the unlikely hero, once again using his natural charm and sometimes innocent looks in his favor. This is also what makes Quaid’s hero characters so relatable, as he brings a down-to-earth quality that makes his performances even more entertaining. Companion and Novocaine can make a great double feature for those who enjoy Jack Quaid’s work, showing two very different sides of him.
