Steven Spielberg Convinced Ke Huy Quan to Star in Action Movie Love Hurts

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Steven Spielberg persuaded Ke Huy Quan to take on the lead role in the upcoming action-comedy film titled “Love Hurts.

The poignant film “Love Hurts” is set to hit US cinemas in February, courtesy of Universal Pictures. In this production, Quan, acclaimed for his Oscar-winning Best Supporting Actor role in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2022), embodies the character Marvin. He shares the screen with Ariana DeBose, portraying Rose.

Reflecting on my conversation with Spielberg for Empire Magazine, I shared how he managed to persuade me to step into the lead role in Love Hurts. You might remember that we collaborated before on 1984’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, where I had the pleasure of playing Short Round alongside him.

What did Ke Huy Quan say about Steven Spielberg and Love Hurts?

At a function, I found myself alongside Steven Spielberg. He inquired, “Ke, how are you feeling?” To which I responded, “Steven, I’m not doing too great.” Despite the affection and encouragement I received during the award season, I was anxious that whatever I undertook next might not meet expectations. Quan explained. Spielberg was understanding. He proposed, “Let’s grab lunch together.” I shared my project idea with him and presented it as a pitch. His response? “Ke, it sounds fantastic. Go ahead and do it.

Quan made it clear that his apprehensions regarding the role in Love Hurts were not related to the script itself. Instead, he desired assurance that he could convincingly portray an action hero before accepting the part.

As someone who shares my likeness, I never imagined I’d be cast in this extraordinary role. Fortunately, they persevered and gave me another chance. On my third attempt, I walked in to find elaborate slides featuring myself as the lead character. It was at that moment I began to envision it differently. ‘They’re creating a fresh kind of action hero,’ I thought. ‘Not the typical one we’ve seen for years, but something innovative and unique.’

Love Hurts releases in United States theaters on February 7, 2025.

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2025-01-14 21:40