He also told a fun story about surprising his family at D23 with another upcoming role.
KE HUY QUAN: Im so glad you said that.
I would go and just have a good time for 90 minutes.
There was no agenda, there was no message, nothing.
It was just to escape reality for 90 minutes.
And thats what we want this movie to be.
Image via Universal Studios
Were not trying to do anything but entertain [people] for that period of time.
We trained really hard for it.
We have an incredible action team from 87North.
Did you ever regret saying that you wanted to do it all yourself?
QUAN: I had this conversation with Michelle Yeoh before I did it.
My wife, Echo, knows Im gonna do everything.
She was there with me for the training.
She’s good friends with Michelle, and Michelle asked, Hows Ke doing?
And she said, Oh, my God, hes training really hard for this movie.
Image via Universal Studios
Hes so adamant that he wants to do everything.
And Michelle said, Can you like tell him not to do that?
Let the stunt double do the hard stuff.
She was so lovely.
She was really caring.
She cares a lot about me, and I love Michelle for it.
Theres something really special when the audience can see that there are real stakes to it.
So,I hope the audience appreciates what were trying to give them.
What was it like to train with 87North?
QUAN: Oh, yeah, it was hard.
There was a lot of weight training, a lot of core training, a lot of stretching.
Thats a really important part of it.
I know martial arts.
It was really about getting myself mentally to be in that shape again, and then physically too.
A lot of it was just trying to get that muscle memory to come back.
Im very proud that we were able to do it.
I was very well taken care of by the 87North action team.
It was really advantageous to have that knowledge and to put it all in this movie.
Was there a sequence that made you nervous before shooting it?
Did they all make you nervous, or did you feel prepared because you had that time with 87North?
QUAN: I did have a lot of preparation time, more than three months.
In fact, my training didnt stop when we started production.
It lasted throughout the entire production.
I knew, mentally and physically, I was well prepared for it.
That was the big challenge.
This is an 87North movie.
So, if you dont have the shot, hey dont move on.
And thats exactly what we did.
In fact, our action team made a shirt for everybody that said, No compromise.
Is this the kind of film youve always wanted to do?
As a kid, did you picture yourself in those movies as an action star?
QUAN: If I say no, thats a lie.
A badass doesnt have to look like a badass.
He or she doesnt need anyone to think theyre a badass until the situation calls for it.
My parents are badasses, with the sacrifices that they made to get us all here.
I find that a lot of teachers are badasses.
Hopefully, we can view what badass means in a new light.
Thats why a movie likeNobodyand what Bob Odenkirk did in that was so successful.
It was also very unexpected.
QUAN: Oh, yeah, I love that movie.
He is the ultimate badass.
When you’re able to step away from a fight, thats great.
We see that this woman comes back into your characters life.
What was it like to find that relationship and to work with Ariana DeBose?
I said, One day, I would love to work with you.
Little did I know that my next movie, post-Oscar, would be this and that dream came true.
Shes so wonderful and she brings a lot to this character, Rose.
And what I love about Rose is that shes also a real badass too.
Shes a very strong-minded woman, very similar to how I grew up in my household.
I grew up with seven very strong-minded women in my family.
I had a great time working with her.
Shes lovely, and I hope we get to do more.
Was there something that most surprised you about what making this movie ultimately turned out to be?
But there were a lot of challenges.
We have five epic fight sequences in the movie.
And Im very proud of all the actors.
We didnt do our own stunts because thats very different.
Thats a very special skill.
I would see this movie just to see Ariana DeBose throw that punch.
QUAN: She is awesome.
I was surprised when I said, Wait, youve never thrown a punch before?
She said, No.
And she threw it with such vigor and power and precision.
I was watching behind the monitor the whole time and she got an inch from the actors face.
I kept telling her, Ari, youre way too close!
And she went, No!
She was just so determined to sell that punch.
Youll see it in the movie.
Is that something that youve discussed as a possibility?
Is it something youd like to see happen with this character?
QUAN: Oh, I havent gotten that far.
I hope it really resonates with the audience.
Honestly, we made this movie for the audience who love this genre, the action genre.
Its a Valentines movie that comes out one week before Valentines.
We have a lot of romantic comedy in it, and its a kick-ass Valentines movie.
Thats how I grew up, and thats why I love making movies.
Im very proud of it.
One of 2022’s most remarkable and celebrated comebacks.
QUAN: Thank you.
What was great was that my family flew down from Houston, Texas.
Thats how much they love that event.
They were in the audience when they heard it and saw it.
They texted me right away and they were so happy.
They were like, Oh, my God, Uncle Ke, you didnt tell us this.
I said, Because you guys were gonna be there.
I dont need to tell you.
They were genuinely happy and surprised.
Love Hurtsis out in theaters on February 7, 2025.
Check out the trailer:
