Jack Quaid talks Companion, Novocaine, The Boys and biggest challenges

Don’t ask Jack Quaid about the twisty plot in his upcoming film companion because he doesn’t want to talk about it. “It’s a film best enjoyed by going into it as blind as possible,” he says.

But mention his new action film Novocaine and the 32-year-old actor – son of icons Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan – could probably talk for hours about the challenges of playing someone who can’t feel pain.

“It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever worked on, just with my body in this film,” says Quaid The Hollywood Reporter Playing Nathan Caine. “I think I’m unlikely to be an action hero and that’s what defines me Novocaine interesting for me. I don’t think anyone expects me to kick ass, and I kick ass in a very specific way in this movie.”

Despite the obviously busy press tours ahead – companion Releases in January, Novocaine is coming out in March and he also has his new film Heads of State is coming out soon – Quaid simply feels “extremely lucky” to have worked with so many talented actors and to have “discovered a lot about myself” in the process.

Below, Quaid opens up about growing up in the industry with his famous parents and why people shouldn’t watch the next film companion Trailer about how he managed to play a person who doesn’t feel pain Novocainethe fifth and final season of The boys and more.

Growing up with parents working in the industry, how did that help shape the actor you are today? And when did you even realize that you wanted to follow in her footsteps?

Of course, a lot of people would assume that I wanted to do it because both of my parents did it and it didn’t play NO Part. The biggest benefit I get from them is that they were proof that it was possible to make a living as an actor. I went to drama school and talked to my friends there, and most of them have the same story: they told their parents they wanted to be an actor, and their parents said, “I don’t think that’s the right path.” “You” or “Why don’t you have a backup plan” or something like that? I told my parents that I wanted to be an actor and they understood what that meant. They weren’t too keen on it at first because they knew how hard it was for them, so they said, “Oh God, of course we’ll have another one.” But ultimately they understood and were very supportive, which I’m very grateful for.

But the real reason I wanted to do this was… I don’t know how I would have mentally survived in the entertainment industry if I didn’t really love what I did. If I had done this just to be a famous person or have some kind of influence, I would have been done with it a long time ago. I had to find the love for it before I did it.

To begin your busy year ahead, you have the psychological skills thriller companion will be published in January. What originally interested you in the project?

I thought it was one of the best scripts I’ve ever read. (Director) Drew Hancock did such a great job writing a story that the whole time I was never sure where it was going. It’s a very current story. It’s one of those things I read that’s very similar The boyswhere I was like, “I have to be a part of this thing.” And I remember meeting Drew and saying, “If you want me, I’m yours.” That’s incredible.” And thank God I was allowed to I wanted to be a part of it because it was truly one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve had as an actor. The cast is so great that I was really lucky to work with them, including Sophie Thatcher, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, Lukas Gage and Rupert Friend. It was just a kind of murderous noise that I was able to observe at work. … I’m really excited for people to try it out. I would implore you: If it’s a movie you’re already going to see, try to look up as little about it as possible. It’s a film best enjoyed by going into it as blind as possible. So if you’re going to watch it, don’t even bother watching the next trailer that comes out. Please don’t. If you’re still undecided, check it out and make the decision yourself.

Is there a genre of film that you typically gravitate towards, and is there one that you haven’t explored yet that you would like to do in the future?

I love a good thriller. companion is definitely a thriller. Novocaine is more of an action film and it was a lot of fun to make, but it was incredibly physically challenging for me. It was one of the hardest I’ve ever worked on, just with my body in this film. …I think I’m unlikely to be an action hero, and that’s what defines me Novocaine interesting for me. I don’t think anyone expects me to kick ass, and I kick ass in a very specific way in this movie. I play a man who cannot feel pain and has a real genetic disorder called CIPA, a congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis. Basically, your nervous system doesn’t allow you to feel pain, and that’s not a good thing. You might think it’s amazing, but many people with this condition don’t make it past 25. They have to puree all meals and drink through a straw because they might bite their tongue off without realizing it. So it’s a little scary. But it’s about a character who is kind of protected and lives in a bubble at the beginning for his own safety and uses that to protect someone he loves. And being in action scenes where I don’t feel pain and I’m trying not to wince is a very interesting thing, because of course you react to being hit a million times, and I just don’t do that in this film. So that was a really interesting challenge.

And as far as the genre I’d like to play more in, I’d say it’s outright comedy, which we don’t have that much these days. I want to go back to the days when we could just have a good, silly comedy with some heart. I’m not saying they don’t exist, I’m saying I want more of them to exist and I want to be in one of them.

Are you ready to graduate? The boys with the fifth and final season, and do you think it’s the right time to end the series?

I think it’s good that we’re ending with season five because we’re ending on our own terms. It’s not like anyone canceled us, and we’re trying to quickly get a season together that feels final. It was always the showrunner’s intention to end after five seasons, and I’ve actually known that for some time and tried to keep my mouth shut about it (Laughs). But there’s something great about an ending that’s intentional The boys Season five is going to be crazy. It will be very chaotic. I don’t know, I just keep thinking that a lot of us are probably going to die. It’s just going to be crazy and I’m excited to see what that brings.

What does your perfect day off look like?

It’s the most boring answer in the world. I’d rather just sit around in my apartment and do absolutely nothing, as if that’s all there is to it. I like to go for walks, I say. I am a big hiker. That’s just how I am. I live in LA and still go for walks every day. It just helps me get out of my head. I like to go jogging. And otherwise I like to sit in my living room, play video games and do absolutely nothing. A little more productive, I like to write. I’m currently working on pitching a project. I’m currently writing a script. In the entertainment industry, there are other things that interest me besides acting. I’m in a sketch comedy group and we perform live whenever we can. …But as far as the day off, I think I just sleep. In this respect I am a simple creature.

It sounds like you’re trying to make LA walkable.

Honestly, that’s my goal. I think I’m a pioneer and I want to be recognized for it (Laughs).

What is the biggest challenge you have overcome to get to where you are today?

I think a lot of it is – a lot of actors face this – a certain level of self-doubt and fear. In the beginning there’s a lot of fear: “Maybe I won’t be able to do this.” And then when you start to succeed, there’s a lot of imposter syndrome. Afterwards we think, “Well, maybe I don’t deserve this.” One of the things I’ve been able to do is, hopefully not in an admitted way, just acknowledge, “Okay, at least I’m good enough to do this “…And you can have a little bit of self-confidence, (but) you have to back that up with hard work.

If you had to describe what makes Jack Quaid Jack Quaid, what would you say?

Do you know who I am deep down? You walk past a used car dealer and you see this crazy, waving, inflatable arm flailing tube man…that’s basically me. I don’t think I’m more complicated (Laughs). I’m just this guy with lots of limbs blowing in the wind.