Ariana DeBose is proving her dedication to action filmmaking in the upcoming action rom-com Love Hurts—but at a cost. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the actress revealed that she sustained multiple injuries while performing her own stunts for the film.
A self-proclaimed fan of Atomic Blonde (2017), DeBose was inspired by Charlize Theron’s intense fight sequences and saw this film as her opportunity to channel that same energy. However, she admitted that while filming, she suffered injuries “every day.”
Directed by veteran stunt coordinator Jonathan Eusebio in his feature debut, Love Hurts also stars Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan.
Quan, known for his physical performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once, only agreed to join the film under the condition that he could perform his own stunts. He recalled a moment on set when DeBose, whom he calls “Ari,” showed him her bruised arm and asked if it was normal. His response? “Sorry, Ari, it is. That’s what it takes to make these.”
DeBose, who also stars in Kraven the Hunter, explained that she often didn’t feel the pain until after filming a take. However, during one particularly intense climactic fight scene, she admitted that some of the hits were impossible to ignore.
The Plot of Love Hurts
The film follows Marvin Garble (Quan), a realtor with a dark past who is forced back into a life of crime when his presumed-dead ex-partner, Rose Carlisle (DeBose), reappears. With his crime-lord brother also hunting him down, Marvin must confront the past he thought he had left behind.
With a blend of action, romance, and DeBose’s fearless commitment to stunts, Love Hurts is shaping up to be an exciting addition to the genre!