Daven Tamayo

Fil-Am actor Jacob Batalon joins Jack Quaid in 'Novocaine'

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

The action-packed film Novocaine is making waves among critics and audiences alike, featuring a unique blend of thrilling stunts and sharp humor.Starring Jack Quaid—son of Hollywood legends Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid—the movie follows an unusual protagonist with a bizarre medical condition: complete insensitivity to pain.Jack Quaid plays Nathan Caine, an ordinary guy with an extraordinary condition—he can’t feel pain.But when his girlfriend is kidnapped, he stumbles upon a surprising advantage: his inability to feel injury makes him a nearly unstoppable force.Armed with this strange “superpower,” Nathan dives headfirst into a world of danger to save the woman he loves.Quaid, best known for his roles in &quot;The Boys&quot; and &quot;The Hunger Games,&quot; described Novocaine as one of the most physically demanding projects of his career.“It’s maybe the most physically challenged that I’ve ever been on a movie,” he said.When asked on how he carved his own path in Hollywood, he said he takes projects that would make him want to watch the show regardless of his participation in it.“I think my kind of North Star, in terms of what projects to take on, is always to do something that— Because I&#x27;ve really felt this way with &#x27;The Boys&#x27; when I first read the script of it, and I remember just thinking: This is brilliant. I need to be a part of this thing, if not Hughie, even someone in the background, whatever. I just want to be a part of it,&quot; he said.&quot;And it made me realize that I think I gravitate towards stuff, and I&#x27;ve been really lucky to be a part of things that I would be a fan of, regardless of my own involvement. I knew when I read the script for &#x27;Novocaine,&#x27; I was like, ‘Oh, I&#x27;d watch this. I would really watch this, even if I wasn&#x27;t Nate,’” he added. Joining Quaid in this wild adventure is Filipino-American actor Jacob Batalon, known for playing Ned Leeds in the Spider-Man and Avengers movies.In &quot;Novocaine,&quot; he plays Nathan’s best friend—a character that was initially described in the film as &quot;Jason Momoa.&quot;“It was really fun,” Batalon shared, laughing about his casting.“I get to do a lot of best-friend stuff, but it was really cool to be part of such a gory action film.”The movie was filmed in South Africa, which added to the thrill. “It was just a great treat to go there and have a good time with everyone,” he added.Batalon also had personal news to celebrate—his engagement. When congratulated, he proudly responded in Filipino with “Salamat!”Adding to the film’s intensity is Ray Nicholson, son of legendary actor Jack Nicholson, who plays the film’s villain.Reflecting on his journey into acting, Nicholson shared, “I guess I always knew I wanted to do it, but I was scared. Then in college, I realized—this is what I’m supposed to do.”Amber Midthunder, best known for her lead role in Prey, takes on the part of Nathan’s fearless love interest. With an action-heavy role, she brings both toughness and depth to the film.“I think that, a lot of times the female role in a movie like this is really just to kind of be flowery and beautiful - and that&#x27;s lovely and I think she has that too, but she&#x27;s afforded kind of a weirder side. And that it makes her so much more human and interesting, and the filmmakers were so intentional about that,” she said.

The action-packed film Novocaine is making waves among critics and audiences alike, featuring a unique blend of thrilling stunts and sharp humor.

The action-packed film Novocaine is making waves among critics and audiences alike, featuring a unique blend of thrilling stunts and sharp humor.