Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan continues to write down new chapters in his feel-good comeback story, and this newest one is as an motion star in Jonathan Eusebio’s Love Hurts. 

After an almost two-decade hiatus from performing, Quan received an Oscar for his supporting position as Waymond Wang in Daniels’ finest picture-winning Every part In every single place All at As soon as. It was a storybook second probability for an actor who grew disillusioned with performing, opting to stop and enroll in USC’s movie program. It wasn’t till watching 2018’s Loopy Wealthy Asians that he felt the urge to check the waters for any new alternatives. 

In Love Hurts, Quan’s character, Marvin Gable is certainly one of Milwaukee’s finest realtors, and he, too, has additionally been having fun with his personal second chunk of the apple till his a lot darker previous as a hitman comes again to hang-out him. Within the lead-up to his first go-round as a number one man in a serious studio movie, Quan and the producorial crew had been weighing the probabilities for the position of Cliff, Marvin’s realtor boss, and that’s when somebody instructed a casting that might mark a 40-year reunion. 

“After I heard one of many names, I stated, ‘Oh my God, we’ve to make that occur!’” Quan tells The Hollywood Reporter in assist of the February 2025 movie’s first trailer. “I really texted Sean [Astin] after manufacturing reached out to him, and I stated, ‘Hey, buddy, it’s been 40 years since we’ve shared the display collectively [in The Goonies]. It will be unimaginable to have the ability to do it once more.’ And he didn’t reply!”

Apparently, Astin — who performed the honorable Mikey reverse Quan’s ingenious Information in Richard Donner’s beloved 1985 journey movie — has a aptitude for the dramatic off-camera, as properly. 

“He didn’t reply to me, however he responded by saying sure to manufacturing and letting me discover out about it that method,” Quan says mid-laugh. “So it was such a beautiful shock, and I believe he was making an attempt to maintain the suspense.”

On the day of certainly one of Astin’s scenes, Quan was joined by Jeff Cohen, his leisure lawyer who brokered his Every part In every single place deal, however his longtime buddy was really there to revisit his personal previous as a baby actor in The Goonies. He performed the overly confessional Chunk. 

“When [Sean and I] did our scenes collectively, Jeff Cohen came over, so there have been three Goonies collectively,” Quan shares. “It felt prefer it did as youngsters on the set of The Goonies.”

Following his USC commencement in 1999, Quan went to work for motion director Corey Yuen on the set of X-Males (2000), serving because the assistant battle choreographer. That’s the place he instructed Hugh Jackman, as Wolverine, one thing he introduced as much as Jackman just lately at Kevin Feige’s Stroll of Fame Ceremony. (In fact, the Australian star remembered.) Quan additionally has a martial arts background in taekwondo, so his dedication to Love Hurts hinged on having the ability to do all of his personal battle choreography. Fittingly, Love Hurts director Eusebio can also be a career-long stunt skilled who’s now making his characteristic directorial debut, so Quan and Eusebio had been bonded by their shared backgrounds. And along with producer David Leitch and his 87North motion crew, the Love Hurts mind belief put Quan by means of the wringer a la 87North’s earlier work with the actors in Deadpool 2, Bullet Prepare, No one and The Fall Man. 

“After I stated sure to this position, I stated [to Leitch, Eusebio and the producers]: ‘If I’m going to do that, then there’s one factor that you simply’ve acquired to vow me. I need to have the ability to do all of the fights myself,’” Quan says. “That was an enormous assertion, and that was an announcement that I didn’t know whether or not I may do. I used to be 53 years previous at the moment. We saved pushing the envelope till I used to be in a position to do every little thing myself … It was exhausting, mentally and bodily, and I used to be bruised each single day once we had been making this film.”

When Quan heard his identify introduced on the ninety fifth Academy Awards in 2023, he heard it by means of the tearful voice of Ariana DeBose, who’d received the yr prior for her supporting work in Steven Spielberg’s West Facet Story. After the ceremony, Quan and DeBose expressed their mutual need to work with each other, and Quan rapidly acquired his want in Love Hurts, as DeBose performs Rose, Marvin’s former prison affiliate that he left behind in pursuit of the straight and slender. Naturally, the 2 actors additionally related over the truth that Spielberg solid them of their respective main studio debuts, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and West Facet Story.

“On the primary day of taking pictures, I took an image of us collectively, and I despatched it to Steven, saying, ‘Steven, I’m doing a film with Ari. We’re your godchildren.’ And he actually preferred it,” Quan shares.

Under, throughout a current dialog with THR, Quan additionally discusses why he’s not fairly able to observe in Spielberg’s footsteps and make a semi-biographical movie about his personal life story.

I consider Love Hurts is the primary time you’ve been a number one man in a serious studio movie. Have you ever been in a position to wrap your head round that but? 

Oh my gosh, I don’t assume I’ll be capable to wrap my head round it till the film opens. Truthfully, it’s unimaginable. For the longest time, I’ve beloved the motion style. I actually love motion films, and once I watch a very good motion film, I at all times fantasize about being the motion star. I put myself of their footwear and picture being primary on the decision sheet, and it lastly occurred, which is so unimaginable. 

What else did Marvin Gable deliver out of you that was distinctive out of your previous characters?

Marvin Gable is that this affable actual property agent, and he simply desires to be a traditional man who actually enjoys the mundane life. He’s so obsessed with serving to folks’s dream of proudly owning a house come true, and also you see it in his enthusiasm. And realizing that he has this ugly previous, it’s additionally about redemption and second possibilities. I acquired this unimaginable second probability to be an actor once more, and whereas enjoying Marvin, I understood the place he was coming from and why he wished to maneuver ahead. So it was unimaginable to deliver a few of my very own story into this. It actually was. 

You’ve labored in stunts and battle choreography. You’re additionally a martial artist. So how a lot did that muscle reminiscence show you how to when it got here time for the rigorous 87North coaching? 

After I stated sure to this position, I stated to the producers — David Leitch, Kelly McCormick, Man Danella — and our director, Jonathan Eusebio: “If I’m going to do that, then there’s one factor that you simply’ve acquired to vow me. I need to have the ability to do all of the fights myself.” That was an enormous assertion, and that was an announcement that I didn’t know whether or not I may do. I used to be 53 years previous at the moment. We shot this earlier this yr. I additionally stated, “Should you agree, I would wish all the assistance I can get.” So 87North put collectively this unimaginable crew, and regardless that I’ve a martial arts background and the data and the muscle reminiscence, it was actually about getting myself mentally and bodily ready for the position. In order that was the most important problem, and I actually didn’t know whether or not I may do it or not, however I used to be able to attempt. I really like watching ‘80s motion films from Hong Kong the place you see Jackie Chan, Jet Li and all these motion stars doing it themselves. In order that’s what I wished, and I stated, “How will we do that?”

David Leitch additionally understood my capabilities and my data, and so I went to the 87North headquarters to coach with the fellows day-after-day. They’d say, “Are you able to do that kick?” And as soon as I may do it, they’d go, “Okay, nice. Now let’s push it additional. Let’s do extra.” So we saved pushing the envelope till I used to be in a position to do every little thing myself, and that was an unimaginable problem. It was exhausting, mentally and bodily, and I used to be bruised each single day once we had been making this film. Actually,I’d return to my condominium each night time, and my spouse would fill the bathtub with sizzling water for me. I’d then pour half a bag of Epsom salt in it simply to assist with the bruising. However I hope that each one the hassle that we put into this film will resonate with the viewers once they watch it. It’s not new that I’m doing all of the fights myself, nevertheless it’s been a short while since we’ve seen one thing like this. And, hopefully, that’s one thing that the viewers likes to see. 

You ran into Hugh Jackman at Kevin Feige’s current Stroll of Fame ceremony. Did the 2 of you talk about your time with him as assistant battle choreographer on X-Males?

We completely did. We had a beautiful dialog after [Marvel Studios boss] Kevin Feige acquired his star. We had been simply strolling again to the theater, and I stated, “Hugh, do you keep in mind me?” And he stated, “Sure!” I helped Corey Yuen, who was the motion director at the moment [on X-Men]. I helped him choreograph, and certainly one of my tasks was to coach Hugh with the choreography. So he remembered that, and he was so sort. We had a beautiful alternate, and that was a extremely candy second down reminiscence lane. There’s an image on the web of me displaying him a kick, and it simply introduced again so many great recollections. I really like him a lot. He’s not solely an awesome actor, however he’s additionally a really sort individual.

So whose thought was it to reunite Mikey (Sean Astin) and Information (Quan) from The Goonies? 

It was the producers. We didn’t actually know who would play Cliff, and we had been fascinated by many various names. And once I heard one of many names, I stated, “Oh my God, we’ve to make that occur!” I really texted Sean after manufacturing reached out to him, and I stated, “Hey, buddy, it’s been 40 years since we’ve shared the display collectively. It will be unimaginable to have the ability to do it once more.” And he didn’t reply! (Laughs.) He didn’t reply to me, however he responded by saying sure to manufacturing and letting me discover out about it that method. So it was such a beautiful shock, and I believe he was making an attempt to maintain the suspense. I used to be simply ready in anticipation, after which the producer known as me and stated, “Sean is in!” And I stated, “Oh my gosh, that’s unimaginable!’

And once we did our scenes collectively, Jeff Cohen came over, so there have been three Goonies collectively. [Writer’s Note: Cohen played Chunk, and he’s now Quan’s entertainment lawyer.] We talked, and it was simply unimaginable. Hastily, I felt like I used to be a child once more. It didn’t really feel like we had been all grown-up. It felt prefer it did as youngsters on the set of The Goonies. And that’s additionally what it felt like once I did my scenes with Sean. The digicam, the crew and all people simply disappeared, and I used to be taking a look at Mikey once more and I consider he was taking a look at Information once more. So it was one of many happiest shoot days that I’ve ever had.

Did you suggest Daniel Wu for the position of Marvin’s villainous brother after working collectively on American Born Chinese language?

Sure, we had been taking a look at who can be good to play Marvin’s brother, and I used to be already very conversant in Daniel’s work in Hong Kong. I’ve seen lots of his films; he additionally has a martial arts background. So I simply knew that if he had been to play my brother, it could be unimaginable, and certain sufficient, it was. Our pacing was in sync, as was each punch and kick. We simply knew the place we wanted to go, and that basically helped as a result of we didn’t have lots of time to shoot the large finale. So he was the proper dance accomplice and the proper brother. 

You and your Love Hurts co-star Ariana DeBose each made your main studio debuts in Steven Spielberg films. You each received finest supporting position Oscars in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and she or he even introduced your Oscar to you. Was it straightforward to attach together with her in any case these factors? 

Sure, it was. I really like Ari. I beloved her in West Facet Story, and such as you stated, we’ve these connections. When she opened the envelope and introduced, “The Oscar goes to …” she stated my identify with such emotion. That was the primary time I’d heard anyone announce the winner with tears, and I beloved her for it, and I’ll at all times love her. I keep in mind working into her at a type of occasions afterwards, and I stated, “Ari, I’d like to work with you at some point.” And she or he stated, “I’d too!” Little did I do know, my first film, post-Oscar, can be together with her. So it was an unimaginable expertise. Actually, on the primary day of taking pictures, I took an image of us collectively, and I despatched it to Steven, saying, “Steven, I’m doing a film with Ari. We’re your godchildren.” And he actually preferred it. 

The previous few years maintain getting higher and higher for you, and your life story seems like a film in its personal proper. Would you ever need to inform your story on the large display like Steven did with The Fabelmans? 

Oh wow. I don’t assume I’m prepared for it. To start with, I’m stunned I even did it, however one of many hardest issues for me to do was be very open with the world about my struggles and every little thing that I used to be going by means of throughout these troublesome occasions. I used to be raised to not do this and maintain all my feelings inside. However for causes I can’t even clarify, I simply opened up for the world to see, and I really feel like that’s already sufficient. So to see my life story up on the display, I don’t know. I simply don’t know. 

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Love Hurts opens in theaters on Feb. 7, 2025.