Projects dreamed up by actors who really want to work together can run the risk of becoming bloated vanity projects. Yet ‘The Wrecking Crew,’ spawned from an idea by leads Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa, manages to avoid most of those traps by being exactly what you might expect.
Front-loaded with action and powered by the charisma of its main men, ‘The Wrecking Crew’ harbors no illusions as to what it is –– dumb, fun and full of chaos.
Writer Jonathan Tropper (‘This is Where I Leave You’), is more normally known for his cinematic work alongside Shawn Levy, but while his movies have been more emotional and spiritual, his TV work, especially ‘Banshee’ has more of a connection to this film.
The style here is adrenaline-fueled action comedy with a healthy dollop of comedy to leaven our heroes slaughtering squads of henchmen as they investigate their father’s suspicious death.
Though you could probably guess the entire plot before the credits have finished, it’s entirely disposable and not the selling point.
Director Ángel Manuel Soto keeps things light and nimble, and if it ends up a little overstuffed for such a slim premise, it doesn’t suffer.
This really is the Bautista and Momoa show, the pair sharing some crackling chemistry as long-estranged brothers –– one a taciturn Navy SEAL who prefers to go by the book, the other a maverick cop with a penchant for leather jackets and throwing empty beer bottles.
They really do pull this thing along on their shared shoulders, but the likes of Jacob Batalon, Stephen Root and Morena Baccarin all get decent material to work.
It’s often vulgar, violent and has a storyline you could note on a napkin, but ‘The Wrecking Crew’ also has throwback charm and action bedlam that adds up to decent entertainment value.
Two estranged half-brothers, Jonny (Jason Momoa) and James (Dave Bautista) are forced to reunite after their father’s mysterious death. As they set out to uncover the truth, buried secrets resurface and loyalties are tested, unveiling a conspiracy that can tear their family apart.
Together, they are ready to wreck anything that gets in their way.
(L to R) Jacob Batalon, Morena Baccarin and director Ángel Manuel Soto discuss ‘The Wrecking Crew’.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Morena Baccarin, Jacob Batalon, and director Ángel Manuel Soto about their work on ‘The Wrecking Crew’, Soto’s first reaction to the screenplay and the challenges of balancing the action and comedy, how Baccarin prepared for her action sequences, and Batalon’s experience improvising with Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews.
Moviefone: To begin with, Ángel, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and the challenges of balancing the right tone beteween comedy and action?
Ángel Manuel Soto: I think the first reaction when I read this screenplay was that the action and the comedy was very well laid out. Jonathan Tropper is an amazing writer, he has mastered that, but what really convinced me to take this movie on was that the action and the comedy, the way I saw it, those were honestly masks that our characters were putting on to hide their childhood trauma. I saw that as an interesting approach to add some subtext to the humor and the action. Also, given that I love of these high testosterone, alpha male driven action movies that avoid emotion, with this movie, the cathartic moment between the brothers, it embraced their vulnerability. I felt like it’s an important aspect of human nature that needs to be further exploited so that we can see that yes, you can be a bad ass, you can be funny, and you can be crass, but you can also have a heart. For me, that was very important because in this world that we’re living in, being able to find points of connection, even within our differences, I think it’s an important topic to tackle. But also finding a story that might inspire people to make amends with other folks or their family members. I feel like that was cool and just the fact that on a different level, it also talked about the displacements of the indigenous people of Hawaii, which is something that I can talk personally about as well because we face the same issues in Puerto Rico. It felt like a great excuse to be able to talk about a topic that affects millions of people worldwide.
MF: Morena, can you talk about preparing for your action sequences and having the chance to go toe to toe with Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista in those scenes?
Morena Baccarin: It was so fun. It was one of the things that really attracted me to this part was she’s so bad ass in her own way and they don’t expect it or nor do you see it coming. In the preparation for this movie and how she dressed. We wanted to make sure to not reveal that she had a ton of tattoos, or she was as bad ass as she was until the moment it comes out. I was a little surprise. But I have to say prep wise, it was minimal in the sense that we shot all my driving action sequences in a studio in a car that was static, which had its own challenges. I didn’t know simple things like your thumbs stay up when you’re driving that fast because you don’t ever want the wheel to really turn and break your thumbs. I had an amazing stunt performer who was a driver, and she taught me so much about making it look like I was really driving. It’s counterintuitive, but if you’re in a car and you’re turning, you got to remember that your body goes the opposite direction when you’re driving then when you’re in the passenger side. So, little things like that were helpful, and I could have used maybe five more days for that, but I didn’t have it. So, if you see something that looks wrong, it’s not my fault.
MF: Finally, Jacob, can you talk about your onscreen chemistry with Jason and Dave, and did you improvise a lot in those scenes? What was it like riffing with the two of them on set?
Jacob Batalon: I think we improvised a lot. I think I barely said anything on the page. But at the same time, Ángel allowed us to go off and they’re fun. I am literally like their little brother in a literal sense because I’m short compared to them. But they also love to get into the game and play around and joke with each other. I think that made it easy. Again, everyone’s so professional and so fun that it just seemed very simple to go in, do our thing and just make it fun.
Two half-brothers, a loose cannon cop (Jason Momoa) and a disciplined Navy SEAL (Dave Bautista), must work together to unravel a conspiracy behind their father’s murder in Hawaii.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jonathan Tropper about his work on ‘The Wrecking Crew’, developing the script with Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista, writing for them specifically, the buddy cop genre, balancing the comedy and action, director Ángel Manuel Soto’s contributions to the script, and how he feels about actors improvising on set.
Tropper also discussed his work on the upcoming ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’, what it’s like writing a ‘Star Wars’ movie, what fans can expect from the new film, and what will surprise them the most.
‘The Wrecking Crew’ screenwriter Jonathan Tropper.
Moviefone: To begin with, I understand that you developed the idea for the movie with Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista. Can you talk about that and what it’s like writing specifically for them?
Jonathan Tropper: We all worked together on a show called ‘See’ on Apple TV, and that’s where I really discovered them. ‘See’ was a pretty serious drama. I mean, it was an action show, but it was a lot of drama. Their roles were very heavy and very dramatic. But the minute the camera stopped rolling; they were just so funny. The banter between them, their appreciation for comedy, and their love for comedy. They both have this desire not to just be seen as monolithic action heroes, but to also do human characters and do comedy. So, we had talked a lot about that, and we had also all discovered our mutual love for the action movies of the late ‘80s and the early ‘90s, in particular Shane Black’s movies. So, we’d always talked about stuff like that. Then we went our separate ways after the show and staid loosely in touch but forgot about it. Then Dave put out that Tweet, which started the whole ball rolling again. I don’t remember who reached out to who first, but I remember in speaking to Jason, he already had a strong idea of wanting it to be estranged brothers, he wanted them to be dealing with daddy issues and he wanted it in Hawaii. He wanted to really show the underbelly of Hawaii and not to show the touristy version of Hawaii. So that was already in place. Dave had some ideas about his character as well. I took that whole thing and then began creating the story. I went out to Hawaii and Jason knows a lot of people out there. I was able to meet a lot of people, see the important places and learn some of the history so that I knew how to weave in what I needed to weave in. It just felt very organic, and it happened quickly. From the time Dave put out that Tweet, to the time we were out there pitching it and selling it and then writing it and making it. As far as movie development goes, it happened fast.
MF: The movie gives off major ‘Lethal Weapon’ and ‘Tango & Cash’ vibes. Can you talk about your love for the buddy cop genre and other films that influenced you?
JT: I think ‘Lethal Weapon’ was a big influence for us, for sure. I think that’s the one where we all kept saying “’Lethal Weapon’ in Hawaii, right?” We all talked about that and ‘48 Hrs.’ and even movies like ‘Running Scared’. I know Ángel our director has mentioned that movie once or twice. But it’s movies that retain the grit of an action drama while you’re doing comedy. There’s just a great dissonance to the comedy being put in this gritty setting, which is something I’ve loved about all those movies. It’s life or death stakes. It’s gritty, it’s dirty. The action is, incredibly visceral and at the same time, it’s funny. So, I think there’s a rich history. We certainly didn’t invent or even reinvent the genre, and we kind of leaned into the tropes of it. We just wanted to celebrate it.
MF: Can you also talk about the tone of the script and finding the right balance between action and comedy?
JT: For me, it always starts with character, and these are two brothers who have a share trauma that goes back to their childhood that instead of bringing them together has torn them apart. So, that’s the beating heart of the movie. I think Jason and Dave’s performances really do convey that. For me, that was always the most important part, the comedy, you could always dial that up or down in the dialogue and in the set pieces, but to me, the most important part was to make sure the beating heart of the movie was the relationship between these two brothers. So that’s where I put my primary focus and having just worked with those guys for a long time, I kind of know the rhythms of their speech. So, it was fun to write for them but that was the easy part. The important part was just tracking their emotional journey together.
MF: I was surprised by how funny Jason and Dave are in the movie? Did you realize how funny they were, and did you play into when writing the script?
JT: Yeah, that’s what I discovered on set when we were doing ‘See’, was like they were doing such heavy dramatic stuff, but the minute the camera stopped rolling, they’re funny guys. They love being funny. They don’t want to be seen it as monolithic action heroes. They want to be seen as actors. They love comedy and I know Dave’s also doing a lot of drama now. I think, like everyone else, they just want to be pushed creatively into areas that they don’t normally get to do. Jason’s been doing a bunch of companies lately, but I think together the distance between the two characters leads to a lot of comedy.
(L to R) Jonathan Tropper, Angel Manuel Soto, Jacob Batalon, Lynn Harris, Jeffrey Fierson, Morena Baccarin and Jason Momoa attend the Amazon MGM Studios ‘The Wrecking Crew’ New York red carpet screening event on Thursday, January 15, 2026 in New York.
MF: Actor Jacob Batalon has said that he improvised a lot on the set of this movie. As a screenwriter, how do you feel about actors improvising and not saying the words you wrote?
JT: I’ve been lucky that in most cases, they follow the basic rhythms of the script, but bring their own imprimatur to it. Jacob is a funny guy, and I’m always happy to take credit for good improvising. If it doesn’t work out, and sometimes it doesn’t, then it’s the editor’s job and the director’s job to figure out what works and what doesn’t. But the kind of improvising Jacob was doing, I never could have written for him because I didn’t know him. I didn’t know his voice. I don’t have his history. But he was doing something that was authentic to who he is and who that character was and so it only made it better, I think.
MF: Can you talk about working with director Ángel Manuel Soto and did he have ideas that you added to the script?
JT: Ángel is a very powerful creative force. He comes in with a lot of ideas, and he’s also willing to go the distance on ideas before he figures that out if they work or not. So, there was a lot of work with Ángel, and I even went out to New Zealand to do work with him. But there’s a lot of trying things and there’s a lot of exploring things. I know Ángel saw a lot of similarities between Puerto Rico and Hawaii in terms of their histories. It was important to him that we capture some of that in the script. So, I think the real work for me began then because writing the first draft was almost too easy. When he came on board and started pulling threads and trying to really find what he wanted. It led to a lot of great stuff, and it was a lot more work. I’ll also tell you that I had written that whole car chase with the helicopter and everything. But then he sits down and goes, “Well, let’s put these guys on a motorcycle,” and he came up with a whole addition to it. The whole middle section of that action set piece was all his idea. He has a good eye for action. I think this script was important to him for a lot of reasons.
(L to R) Ryan Gosling and Flynn Gray on the set of ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’. Photo: Shawn Levy/Instagram.
MF: You wrote the upcoming ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’, directed by Shawn Levy. What was it like for you writing a ‘Star Wars’ movie and getting to “play in that sandbox”?
JT: It is every bit as exciting as I hoped it would be, and it is also a lot more work than I thought it would be. It was really one of the probably toughest, most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had. It’s just so much bigger than anything I’ve done because of the history, because of the mythology, and because of the apparatus that comes with it. It was always exciting and had a million pinch me moments but at the same time, it was a lot of work.
MF: Finally, what should ‘Star Wars’ fans expect from the new film, and what do you think will surprise them the most?
JT: I would say that fans should expect something new and different, but in very much the spirit of the original ‘Star Wars’ movies. We really wanted adventure, excitement, wish fulfillment and the joy that we felt as little kids seeing those first versions of the movies. Anything that grows for generations develops a lot more mythology and weight in history. I think we just wanted to go back to the joy and excitement of how it felt when we were kids seeing these movies.
Two half-brothers, a loose cannon cop (Jason Momoa) and a disciplined Navy SEAL (Dave Bautista), must work together to unravel a conspiracy behind their father’s murder in Hawaii.
Tom Holland arrives on the red carpet of The 90th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, March 4, 2018. Credit/Provider: Phil McCarten / A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: A.M.P.A.S.
Preview:
Tom Holland has suffered a mild injury on the ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ set.
He had a fall while performing a stunt.
The movie’s release date is not affected.
It’s the sort of incident to generate a “Web-Slinging Menace Comes To A Sticky End” headlines on the front page of the Daily Bugle and for J. Jonah Jameson to hope the “vigilante” had some sense knocked into him.
But yes, Spidey, AKA Peter Parker, or rather Tom Holland, the actor who plays him in the MCU, has suffered a mild concussion after a stunt went wrong on the Pinewood, England set of new outing ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’.
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According to Deadline’s reporting on the accident, Holland was performing a stunt and had a fall. He was taken to a local hospital and examined but not admitted, with instructions to rest and recuperate.
Since the movie’s shooting schedule included a lot with Holland (naturally), director Destin Daniel Cretton and the Marvel team have opted to shut down shooting for a week to let the actor get better.
Destin Daniel Cretton (director, ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’) at CinemaCon 2025 for Sony Pictures at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on March 31, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Stewart Cook/Sony Pictures via Getty Images.
Given that ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ changed things in a huge way for Holland’s Peter–– as you’ll likely recall, it ended with a spell that wiped everyone’s memory of him so as to protect the people he loves –– the storyline going forward is naturally something of a mystery.
We do at least know that Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, who contributed to or wrote the previous three Spider-outings, are back on board for this one.
Who else will appear in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’?
Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle in Marvel’s ‘The Punisher.’ Photo: Netflix.
Even with Peter’s changed situation, the likes of MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) are still likely to return.
Yet with ‘Stranger Things’Sadie Sink’s casting earlier this year, that throws an interesting wrinkle in –– what if the plan is for MJ and Ned to have smaller roles while a new supporting cast rises to importance in Peter’s life?
Sink’s role being kept under wraps, and the studio will look to have it that way as long as possible.
Elsewhere, ‘The Bear’s Liza Colón-Zayas has also scored a role in the movie, but her character is also a mystery for now.
When will ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ be in theaters?
While you might think a production pause could have a knock-on effect to the movie’s release, we’re told that’s not the case and it’s on track to still arrive on July 31st, 2026.
Destin Daniel Cretton (director, ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’) at CinemaCon 2025 for Sony Pictures at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on March 31, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Stewart Cook/Sony Pictures via Getty Images.
Movies and TV Shows Featuring Spider-Man Characters:
In keeping with much of the other new casting (more on that below), we don’t yet know what role Tillman will be playing –– whether it’ll be a Marvel character, someone new, or the usual MCU spin on someone from the comics.
Destin Daniel Cretton (director, ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’) at CinemaCon 2025 for Sony Pictures at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on March 31, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Stewart Cook/Sony Pictures via Getty Images.
Given that ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ changed things in a huge way for Holland’s Peter–– as you’ll likely recall, it ended with a spell that wiped everyone’s memory of him so as to protect the people he loves –– the storyline going forward is naturally something of a mystery.
We do at least know that Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, who contributed to or wrote the previous three Spider-outings, are back on board for this one.
Who else will appear in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’?
Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle in Marvel’s ‘The Punisher.’ Photo: Netflix.
Even with Peter’s changed situation, the likes of MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) are still likely to return.
Yet with ‘Stranger Things’Sadie Sink’s casting earlier this year, that throws an interesting wrinkle in –– what if the plan is for MJ and Ned to have smaller roles while a new supporting cast rises to importance in Peter’s life?
Sink’s role being kept under wraps, and the studio will look to have it that way as long as possible.
Elsewhere, ‘The Bear’s Liza Colón-Zayas has also scored a role in the movie, but her character is also a mystery for now.
(Left) Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner / Smart Hulk in Disney+’s ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.’ (Right) Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home.’ Photo: Marvel Studios.
Preview:
Mark Ruffalo is aboard ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’.
Destin Daniel Cretton is directing.
Tom Holland is returning to star as the titular web-crawler.
Looks like Peter Parker has another patriarchal figure headed his way.
How the Hulk fits into the story remains to be seen –– with the likes of Jon Bernthal’s Punisher around, Peter will likely need some help. And who knows whether there will be some conflict between Peter and Bruce themselves before everything is resolved?
Destin Daniel Cretton (director, ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’) at CinemaCon 2025 for Sony Pictures at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on March 31, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Stewart Cook/Sony Pictures via Getty Images.
Given that ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ changed things in a huge way for Peter Parker –– as you’ll likely recall, it ended with a spell that wiped everyone’s memory of him so as to protect the people he loves –– the storyline going forward is naturally something of a mystery.
We do at least know that Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, who contributed to or wrote the previous three Spider-outings, are back on board for this one.
Who else will appear in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’?
Even with the spell affecting Peter, MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) are still likely to return.
Yet with ‘Stranger Things’Sadie Sink’s casting earlier this year, that throws an interesting wrinkle in –– what if the plan is for MJ and Ned to have smaller roles while a new supporting cast rises to importance in Peter’s life?
Sink’s role being kept under wraps, and the studios will look to have it that way as long as possible.
Elsewhere, ‘The Bear’s Liza Colón-Zayas has also scored a role in the movie, but her character is also a mystery for now.
And thanks to the Reporter’s story, we also know that Michael Mando, the ‘Better Call Saul’ actor who cropped up in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ as Mac Gargan, the civilian version of Spidey villain Scorpion, so he’ll also be causing problems.
Finally, we got our first proper look at Holland in his new Spidey suit –– obligatory joke here about it being an official studio video and not a leak from the actor himself…
When will ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ be in theaters?
With cameras now rolling. ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ will swing into theaters on July 31st, 2026.
Thanks to some recent release date shuffles, the movie will be the next MCU entry, ahead of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, which is now scheduled for December 19th, 2026.
Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
Movies and TV Shows Featuring Spider-Man Characters:
(Left) Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’. Photo: Marvel Studios. (Right) Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle in Marvel’s ‘The Punisher.’ Photo: Netflix.
Preview:
Jon Bernthal is boarding ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’.
Destin Daniel Cretton is directing.
Tom Holland is returning to star as the titular web-crawler.
This casting is a happy full circle moment for Holland and Bernthal; the duo were working on the 2017 movie Pilgrimage when preparing to audition for their Marvel roles, and helped each other with their audition tapes.
Destin Daniel Cretton (director, ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’) at CinemaCon 2025 for Sony Pictures at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on March 31, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Stewart Cook/Sony Pictures via Getty Images.
Given that ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ changed things in a huge way for Peter Parker –– as you’ll likely recall, it ended with a spell that wiped everyone’s memory of him so as to protect the people he loves –– the storyline going forward is naturally something of a mystery.
Here’s what Holland said to The Hollywood Reporter about the movie:
“The first few meetings were about, ‘Why would we do this again?’ And I think we found the reason why.”
What is that reason? It’s only known to those involved with the movie right now and soon to anyone who talks to Tom Holland if his talent for divulging spoilers accidentally continues to hold.
We do at least know that Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, who contributed to or wrote the previous three Spider-outings, are back on board for this one.
Who else will appear in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’?
Even with the spell affecting Peter, MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) are still likely to return.
Yet with ‘Stranger Things’Sadie Sink’s casting earlier this year, that throws an interesting wrinkle in –– what if the plan is for MJ and Ned to have smaller roles while a new supporting cast rises to importance in Peter’s life?
Sink’s role is a mystery, one that Marvel and Sony will look to keep that way as long as possible.
But speculation has already begun, with a few potentials floating out there.
Sink could be playing Jean Grey, the hugely powerful mutant character from the ‘X-Men’ comics who has enjoyed a variety of storylines in the pages and on screens, including the memorable “Dark Phoenix” arc.
The X-Men, are, of course, the next big group for Marvel to incorporate into the MCU and we’ve already seen examples of them in the dimension-spanning likes of ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,’‘The Marvels’ and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ though none have been pointed up as the official versions of the characters to make the leap to Earth-616.
Using the new ‘Spider-Man’ movie to introduce one or more characters could work, as the Marvel team has a history of seeding new recruits in other movies.
But if the focus is more on Peter’s story, there’s a chance that Sink might be Gwen Stacey, another famous love interest for our hero, who has appeared in other Spider-stories. Another option is Felicia Hardy, AKA Black Cat.
And, of course, Sink’s red hair could make her a natural fit for classic Peter partner Mary Jane Watson, but with Zendaya’s MJ (albeit not using the same name) filling that role, it seems unlikely.
Elsewhere, ‘The Bear’s Liza Colón-Zayas has also scored a role in the movie, but her character is a mystery for now.
Bernthal has been the small-screen version of Marvel’s Frank Castle –– AKA vigilante character The Punisher –– since he showed up on the Netflix version of ‘Daredevil’ back in 2016.
Since then, he’s appeared in his own eponymous spin-off show, which ran on the streaming service between 2017 and 2019, then came a break until he was brought back in to the fold for this year’s Disney+ continuation series ‘Daredevil: Born Again.’
The story is under wraps for now, here’s what Brad Winderbaum, head of Marvel Television, told EW about it:
“It’s like a shotgun blast of a story, but also has all the pathos and emotion that you want out of a Frank Castle story. It’s so exciting.”
A bigger question for The Punisher in the world of Spider-Man is how his grittier, more violent tone will fit with the family friendlier feel of Spidey and co.
When will ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ be in theaters?
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ will swing into theaters on July 31st, 2026.
Thanks to some recent release date shuffles, the movie will be the next MCU entry to follow ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’, which lands on July 25th.
Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle in Marvel’s ‘The Punisher.’ Photo: Netflix.
Movies and TV Shows Featuring Spider-Man Characters:
Jack Quaid as “Nate” in ‘Novocaine’ from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
‘Novocaine’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.
Opening in theaters on March 14th, ‘Novocaine’ takes the concept of a man who can feel no pain and applies it to ‘John Wick’-style action madness with a healthy dollop of comedy stirred in.
Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen wrangle the chaos here, while star Jack Quaid brings his customary nerdy charisma to the main character of Nathan Caine.
Jack Quaid as “Nate” in ‘Novocaine’ from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
‘Novocaine’ certainly has the benefit of an appealing lead performance from Jack Quaid, who convinces as a man who has had to live a mostly sheltered, somewhat lonely life because, as he explains, his inability to feel pain or certain other sensations has led to him being in mortal danger –– even from eating a piece of pie, as he could bite his own tongue off.
As a whole, the movie finds an amusing gear, blending the action which, while it never hits the highs of, say, a ‘John Wick’ is definitely fun to watch –– well, “fun” might be a somewhat subjective word when the comic brutality ramps up and hands are being plunged into deep fat fryers or bones are exposed from wrists.
Script and Direction
Jack Quaid as “Nate” in ‘Novocaine’ from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Lars Jacobson wrote the script for the new movie, and his experience in both horror and thrillers comes into play here. He’s crafted a convincing world for the main character and the movie spends time early on properly having us get to know Nathan Caine before the story kicks in.
The screenplay also conjures up a solid character for Amber Midthunder’s Sherry, with the young bank clerk serving as more than just a bland love interest. While the other characters are primarily either cops or robbers, everyone has a little moment to shine, especially lead thief Simon (Ray Nicholson).
If there’s one big issue with the screenplay (and the movie made from it), it’s outstaying its welcome, running longer than the plot really requires or can support and essentially turning one of its characters (not Nathan) into a Michael Myers/Jason Voorhees/Terminator type who can seemingly be seriously injured but keep on getting up.
Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, meanwhile, find the right tone for the movie, dialing in on character work before the craziness of the plot takes over and it becomes more of a suspenseful chase (albeit with the comedy still intact).
Cast and Performances
Jack Quaid as “Nate” in ‘Novocaine’ from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
‘Novocaine’s casting is certainly on point, and while not all the roles are (or even can be) as satisfying as the lead pair, they have the benefit of a solid ensemble bringing them to life.
Jack Quaid is our hero, and with the actor having shown different sides of a similar coin via ‘The Boys’ and this year’s excellent A.I. thriller ‘Companion,’ he’s on a good run of late. He’s completely convincing as someone whose unique condition has led to him living a quiet life, but who is essentially good in nature and yearns to find the sort of love that his favorite customer at the bank lived.
Quaid (along with the stunt team) also handles the stunts well, bringing his gawky, lanky frame to bear particularly when Nathan has to pretend that a moment of torture is truly hurting him.
(L to R) Amber Midthunder as “Sherry” and Jack Quaid as “Nate” in ‘Novocaine’ from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
As Sherry, ‘Prey’s Amber Midthunder puts in another great performance, bringing all sides of Sherry to the screens and displaying solid chemistry with Quaid. While her role is somewhat sidelined during the bank robbery until slightly later in the film, she makes a meal of every scene she’s in.
Jacob Batalon, probably best known for the recent ‘Spider-Man’ movies, is playing a similar role here as Roscoe, Nathan’s online gaming buddy (they’ve never met in real life, which means Roscoe has told him all sorts of white lies about his height, his hair, his ride etc.) who shows up when Nathan is in dire straits.
Batalon is charming and funny in the role, and while the character isn’t a million miles away from his Spidey work, it’s certainly something the actor knows how to do well.
Playing Simon, the twitchy, violent leader of the bank robbers, Ray Nicholson notches up another fun role in a group that has already seen him playing a grinning ghoul in last year’s ‘Smile 2’ and –– in the same weekend as ‘Novocaine’s release, no less –– an obsessive stalker in ‘Borderline.’
Jack Quaid as “Nate” in ‘Novocaine’ from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Nicholson feeds his intense energy well into Simon, and if he’s sometimes one-note as a character, the actor makes him watchable.
On the robbers’ case are cops Mincy and Coltraine, played by ‘Get Out’s Betty Gabriel and comedy stalwart Matt Walsh (you’ll recall him from a hundred things, but notably TV’s ‘Veep.’)
While the parts are necessarily smaller by design, both the performers make them work, Mincy coming across as committed and tough, Coltraine offering the comic relief side.
Finally, making an impression in just a couple of things is Lou Beatty Jr., who appears as Earl, a friendly customer of Nathan’s at the bank who is recently widowed and worried that he’ll lose his hardware store and house. Earl is the initial beating heart of the film, and Beatty Jr. also gets to have some fun when Nathan shows up injured from his initial encounter with the robbers and goes about some unorthodox and slightly gross surgery.
Final Thoughts
Jack Quaid as “Nate” in ‘Novocaine’ from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
‘Novocaine’ might not have the impact of a ‘John Wick’ or anything directed by David Leitch, but it holds its own with the blend of comedy and stunt work.
It’s definitely not painful to watch.
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What’s the plot of ‘Novocaine’?
Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid) is a mild-mannered introvert with a rare disorder, congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP), who must rescue the girl of his dreams who has been taken hostage in a bank robbery.
Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home.’ Photo: Marvel Studios.
Preview:
The fourth, untitled MCU ‘Spider-Man’ movie lands in July 2026.
Tom Holland is starring.
Destin Daniel Cretton is in the director’s chair.
With ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ gobbling up huge amounts of money back in 2021 (an even more impressive achievement given that audiences were still wary of movie theaters during the ongoing COVID pandemic), you knew that Sony and Marvel were not going to just give up on future installments of the web-slinging franchise, even if it represented the end of star Tom Holland’s then-current contact.
And now, per Sony, we have news that the fourth film –– whose title we have yet to learn –– will be in theaters on July 24th, 2026.
What’s the story of ‘Spider-Man 4’?
Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
Given that ‘No Way Home’ changed things in a huge way for Tom Holland’s Peter Parker –– as you’ll likely recall, it ended with a spell that wiped everyone’s memory of him so as to protect the people he loves –– the storyline going forward is naturally something of a mystery.
“The first few meetings were about, ‘Why would we do this again?’ And I think we found the reason why,” Holland told the Reporter previously about the fourth movie. But that actual reason has yet to be divulged (and with Holland not currently doing press, we’ll have to wait until he does before any details emerge accidentally).
We do at least know that Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, who contributed to or wrote the previous three Spider-outings, are back on board for this one.
Holland also recently told Jimmy Fallon that the movie will be shooting next summer.
Here’s what he had to say:
“Next summer, we start shooting. Everything’s good to go. We’re nearly there. “The project is super exciting.”
That makes sense given the new release plan and will make it the second confirmed MCU release for 2026 after ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ in May.
Zendaya in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming.’ Photo: Marvel Studios.
Though the game was changed considerably in ‘No Way Home’, we can’t imagine that the franchise would continue without Zendaya as MJ (Peter’s big love interest) and Jacob Batalon as Ned (his best friend). Surely a way will be found to have them remember him?
What movies will the new ‘Spider-Man’ film be up against?
While the latest Spidey outing has its release date to itself, Holland may face competition –– from himself. He’s reportedly aboard the next Christopher Nolan film, which is scheduled to land on July 17th, 2026, so one week before the fourth ‘Spider-Man’ entry.
Could we be looking at the next “Barbenheimer” with a Double Holland coincidence? Only time will tell…
Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
The new horror movie ‘Tarot,’ which is based on the novel ‘Horrorscope’ and was directed by Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg, is scheduled to open in theaters on May 3rd.
Jacob Batalon in ‘Tarot’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jacob Batalon about his work on ‘Tarot,’ his first reaction to the screenplay, his character, working with the cast and the filmmakers, the effects, improvising on set, filming on location, if he believes in tarot cards, and why it is fun making a horror movie, as well as giving an update on the next MCU ‘Spider-Man’ movie, and discussing season 2 of his popular Syfy series ‘Reginald the Vampire’.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
Jacob Batalon.
Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to the screenplay for ‘Tarot’ and why did you want to be part of the project?
Jacob Batalon: I thought it was such a funny, also very great and relatable movie. I think that the friend group relationship is so strong that you don’t want to see any of them die. The movie itself just turned out to be so great.
MF: How would you describe your character, Paxton and what was your approach to playing him?
JB: He’s a great friend. He’s very hard-headed, but he’s one that will try to get your back for sure but is also a little cowardice. I felt that Anna and Spenser, our directors absolutely gave me the space to really play and find the places where I could be funny, but then also be serious and to take things seriously. It turned out great.
MF: Did you improvise a lot on set, or did you stick strictly to the script?
JB: I improved quite a bit and then they told me to reel it back and then they let me improv again. So, it was figuring out what was appropriate and what wasn’t. I think everyone sort of gives me the space to just do things for sure, which is nice.
Harriet Slater in ‘Tarot’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
MF: Can you talk about the tarot card that your character pulls, and do you personally believe in the power of tarot cards?
JB: I would say that it can help you learn some things about yourself. I try to steer clear of anything spiritual just in case I get a ghost attached to me. But Paxton basically pulls the fool card, which means you are a little bullish on things and you should be more thoughtful about making plans and really thinking about your surroundings, and that hopefully doesn’t murder him in the end.
MF: We recently spoke with actor Adain Bradley about ‘Tarot’ and he mentioned that the two of you became very close friends making this movie. What was your experience like working with him?
JB: Adain was great. I think he and I really bonded on that movie, and we would basically work out every day together and he just is a great guy. I really was spending time with him. We really got close on that movie, and I enjoy watching him and his career going the way it’s going right now. I think I’m going to be at his wedding.
MF: What was it like working with the rest of the ensemble cast?
JB: I mean, everyone was so talented and so fun to be around. I think the girls were really into tarot for sure, they were really all about it. It was just a typical friend group. I think especially being the only Americans around in Serbia and Belgrade, we had to stick together. I think that really grew out the chemistry as well too, so it was a lot of jokes for sure.
Avantika Vandanapu in ‘Tarot’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
MF: Did you enjoy shooting on location in Serbia?
JB: Serbia as a country is such a beautiful place and we were able to find in that beautiful place the scariest places possible. I’ve worked on movies where we’re working late at night in some forest, but there were some places where I felt that maybe we shouldn’t be here.
MF: Is it fun making a horror movie or is it emotionally exhausting?
JB: I think it’s a bit of both, for sure. I think it’s a fun, thrilling adventure to really do a horror movie because you’re always up and something scary is going to pop out at you. It’s like a haunted house. But also, you are emotionally charged all the time between the crying, the screaming, seeing scary things and all these heightened emotions. You’re at a hundred percent all the time.
MF: What was it like shooting scenes with The Fool?
JB: It’s a practical costume, and the guy who did it, this contortionist, he was able to really bend his body in ways that were eerie. It felt like he didn’t have a spine. It was crazy.
MF: After making the Marvel movies and acting opposite tennis balls on a green screen, was it refreshing to work with practical effects?
JB: (On ‘Spider-Man’) we’re just looking at a blank green screen or blue screen and you’re told to scream now or run away. It’s just funny. I think it makes it a lot easier to build up a natural organic reaction to something. Also, I would say that it really does add to the effect, and it doesn’t feel like it’s just added into something that we’re screaming at.
(L to R) Actor Adain Bradley and ‘Tarot’ directors Anna Halberg and Spenser Cohen. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
MF: What was it like working with the directing team of Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg?
JB: It was great. I think because it’s their shared vision, they both knew exactly what they wanted. It was their first time directing something big and they did well. They’re writers first and foremost, so they know exactly the story that they want to tell. They were just great to be around. They had good energy about wanting to film stuff and they really do like scary things.
MF: Are you a horror movie fan?
JB: Yeah, for sure. I love watching scary movies. I took my girlfriend to watch, we had a pre-screening of it and she was so terrified. It was very satisfying to watch her hide her face and scream at certain points. I knew what those points that she screamed at would be, and I was absolutely laughing while we were filming it.
MF: What was the experience of making the ‘Spider-Man’ films like for you and working with Tom Holland and Zendaya?
JB: It was great. It was my first job ever, ‘Homecoming’ was, and so it felt like I was being thrown into the deep end really trying to learn everything I can about the industry and being a good actor. I think that it has helped me in my life now professionally and personally. I mean, I can’t say enough about the people that I’ve worked with. They’ve taught me a lot. Everyone were veterans when I first met them, working with Robert Downey Jr., watching Marisa Tomei and Michael Keaton really do their things, it was truly a blessing watching everyone else from Jake to Toby (Maguire) to Andrew (Garfield) and everyone else. I really love Willem (Dafoe). They were just so awesome to really watch do their thing because they’re so good at it. It was a very special experience for sure.
(L to R) Jacob Batalon and Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’. Photo: Sony/Marvel.
MF: Do you feel like you became a stronger actor between making ‘Homecoming’ and ‘Now Way Home’?
JB: I would hope so, but I think for me, I learned a lot and I learned how to conduct myself. So, I guess in that sense, yeah, for sure. But I would hope other people see it in me too.
MF: Are you excited for the opportunity to return for ‘Spider-Man 4’ and have a chance to work with Tom and Zendaya again?
JB: Yeah, it would be nice to be a part of something great like that. Hopefully it happens, but we know this industry, it’s just whatever happens, happens. But yeah, it’d be nice.
MF: There was recently an internet rumor that ‘Spider-Man 4’ will start shooting this fall. Is that true?
JB: I don’t know. I don’t know how everyone else knows this stuff and I don’t. That’s not a good sign for me.
Jacob Batalon.
MF: In general, what are you looking for when you are choosing projects to be a part of?
JB: I think you read so many things that you get the gist of basic storytelling and there’s certain patterns that you realize and recognize. I think for me, if I read a story and I can’t predict what happens within 50-60 pages, I’ll probably see it through. But usually if I can tell where this is going and it’s kind of doing the same things, I think that’s probably something that I might not be gravitating towards. I mean, I’m open to anything that’s cool, creative and different. I’m not necessarily looking for a particular role, I’m more like whatever strikes me as interesting. I know it was a very vague answer, but I really do like anything that I think is a good read on script. I think you would want to work with people who are well-seasoned and who are creative, but you also just want to make sure you click with people. I think that’s a very big part of creativity.
Jacob Batalon in ‘Reginald the Vampire’. Photo: Syfy.
MF: Finally, the second season of your Syfy series ‘Reginald the Vampire’ premieres on May 8th. What can fans expect from the upcoming season?
JB: With season two of ‘Reginald’, it is like you are watching his continued growth and his willingness to be the hero. I think the first time around he was sort of reluctantly the hero, but now he really takes on that role. We’re facing a bigger threat now. It’s not just the community against me in terms of vampires, but we’re facing the angels who are far more powerful and superior in every way, so it’s up to Reginald again to really save the day.
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What is the plot of ‘Tarot’?
The plot centers on a group of college friends who start dying in ways that are related to their fortunes after having their tarot cards read. Before their time runs out, they must work together to uncover the mystery.
