In 2025, Jack Quaid is having a banner year. “I’m not complaining at all,” he smiles. “Some of the things I’m working on are exactly the kinds of projects I would be a fan of, whether or not I was involved. That’s the dream.”

One of the standout projects for Quaid this year is Novocaine, a high-concept action-comedy. He plays Nate, a man who does not feel pain. When the girl he likes gets kidnapped, Nate finds himself thrust into a world of chaos and violence, where he has to rescue the girl while not suffering any unnoticed lethal blows.

Known for The Boys and The Hunger Games, Quaid, 32, liked that Nate isn’t a typical action hero, just an everyday man in extraordinary circumstances. “If you asked people to name an ass kicker, I wouldn’t be top of their mind,” he laughs. “But what I loved about this movie was that it gave me the opportunity to have my ass kicked, and then see how many times I could get back up. I found that really inspiring.”

Novocaine blends action and comedy, with Quaid’s sweet, everyman character contrasting with the high-octane world around him.

“What I really like about the movie is that it’s trying to emulate the kind of action films we saw in the ’80s and ’90s,” he says, citing Die Hard and Lethal Weapon as some of his favourites. “It’s a character-driven action movie, and that’s the sweet spot for me.”

To prepare, Quaid took a deep dive into physical comedy and stunts.

“I love the choreography of it all,” he says. “It’s fascinating. I’ve always thought Keanu Reeves deserves an Oscar for his stunt work. In John Wick, he does these one-take action sequences, all in character – it’s amazing.”

He also considered how Nate, who can’t feel pain, would fight.

“He doesn’t know when he’s injured, so we had to create a style of combat that was specific to him,” explains Quaid. “Let’s say I get punched in the face. My head is going to move, but I can’t wince or show pain at all. That was really interesting to play with.”

This year also brings Companion, Drew Hancock’s darkly funny thriller about AI and misogyny, and the bittersweet conclusion of The Boys, where Quaid plays Hughie Campbell. He’s begun filming the final season.

“It’s bittersweet,” he says. “The show changed my life and I’m so thankful. The cast and crew have become like family.”

He’s at peace with the ending.

“We’re going out on our own terms, which is a luxury. I know I’ll be crying like a baby when it’s over, but the real win is knowing that these people are going to be in my life for the rest of my life.”

Quaid’s path has been shaped by watching his parents, Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid, work, but it wasn’t until his role as Marvel in The Hunger Games that he grasped the rhythm of a set.

“I remember my first day on The Hunger Games. I thought, ‘Nothing could have prepared me for this,’” he notes. “I had been on sets before, but being there for long hours, doing the job – it’s a different world.

What was incredible was getting to watch Jennifer Lawrence create this iconic character.”

In many ways, his journey mirrors his characters – finding his own way, learning from experience, and always striving to improve.

“I felt that way on Oppenheimer, too,” says Quaid. “My part wasn’t huge, but I got to observe people at their best. By that time, I knew what the rhythm of the set was, so I could kind of put that aside and just watch Cillian Murphy absolutely knock it out of the park. That was the best, observing not only someone’s performance, but also how they are – how they treat the people around them. Everyone on that movie was a class act.”

• Novocaine is in cinemas now.