Ke Huy Quan stars as real estate agent Marvin Gable in the action-comedy film “Love Hurts,” which debuted in theaters last week.
Photo by Allen Fraser/Universal Pictures
Acclaimed stunt coordinator brings decades of action expertise to his first feature film, featuring Oscar winners Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose
For nearly three decades, Jonathan Eusebio has been a powerhouse in the action and stunt world as an acclaimed veteran stunt coordinator and fight coordinator, choreographing some of Hollywood’s most thrilling sequences in mega hits such as Black Panther, The Avengers, the John Wick films, The Matrix Resurrections, Violent Night, The Fall Guy and Deadpool 2. He also served as the second-unit director on Deadpool 2, Violent Night and Birds of Prey.
But with the new film Love Hurts, Eusebio makes a significant leap—his debut as a full-fledged feature film director. Transitioning from stunt coordinator and second unit director to the main unit director’s chair is no small feat, and for him, the journey was both challenging and eye-opening.
“I’ve been in the business a long time, so I’ve been a part of every aspect of production but I had never sat through the whole thing as the head,” he told the Asian Journal. “When you are a second unit director or action director, you’re operating under a set of rules given to you. But when you are the main unit director, you’re the one creating those rules. Everything starts and ends with you.”
Eusebio’s extensive background in stunt coordination and second unit directing greatly influenced his approach to Love Hurts. Having worked with some of the industry’s top talent, he understood the importance of collaboration. “I was already very used to working with other creative and intelligent people. Filmmaking is a very collaborative medium, and the best stuff comes from that collaboration.”
To prepare for his new role, Eusebio took classes with a dramaturg to deepen his understanding of working with actors. “Coming from a stunt background, you’re dealing with a different type of process. Emotional scenes require a unique kind of storytelling. I wanted to familiarize myself with different acting techniques so I could guide my actors more effectively.”
Eusebio’s journey into the world of action filmmaking is deeply rooted in his upbringing and family’s immigrant story. Born in Canada to Filipino parents—both nurses who migrated from the Philippines—he grew up navigating different cultural landscapes. His family moved from Toronto to Maine before ultimately settling in Southern California, where his passion for martial arts and action choreography took shape.
Despite his Filipino heritage, Eusebio’s first and only trip to the Philippines was in 2011, when he served as the fight coordinator for The Bourne Legacy, which filmed key sequences in Manila. That experience was not only a professional milestone but also a rare, personal connection to his parents’ homeland.
Eusebio has long been a champion of Filipino martial arts (FMA), incorporating it into his stunt work whenever possible. “At the time, I knew I wasn’t going to open a gym to pass on what I had learned, so the only way to do it was to incorporate FMA into my films. A lot of people think Filipino martial arts are just sticks, but it’s a complete system—there’s weapons, empty-hand combat, grappling. I’ve always tried to weave that into the movies I’ve worked on.”
A key figure in Eusebio’s career has been director and stunt coordinator David Leitch, with whom he shares a nearly 30-year creative partnership. Their journey began at Dan Inosanto’s Academy of Martial Arts, where they trained under some of the best in the field. “David and the others were like my older brothers. I watched them evolve from stuntmen to coordinators to second unit directors, and then to full-fledged directors. They created a pathway for me, and I just followed.”
Leitch, who serves as a producer on Love Hurts, played a critical role in supporting Eusebio’s directorial debut. “I’m very fortunate to have him as my mentor. I could just text him and ask questions. He gave me my shot with this movie, and he really protected me throughout the process.”
Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All At Once) stars in his first leading role as an unlikely hero in Love Hurts, an action-packed comedy with Filipino American stunt director Jonathan “Jojo” Eusebio (right) making his first full-feature directorial job. Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
Bringing Love Hurts to life
For Love Hurts, Eusebio found himself directing not just any actors, but two Oscar winners—Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose. The decision to cast them was a deliberate one. “During the awards circuit, we were trying to figure out who would be the best person to play Marvin. We wanted someone unassuming, someone the audience would like—well-mannered but capable of flipping a switch. Watching Ke’s Oscar push after Everything Everywhere All At Once, I knew he was the guy.”
Casting DeBose came naturally after that. “Ke pointed out how she presented him his Oscar and how much love they had for each other. I met her, and I knew right away she was meant to be Rose.”
The film pays homage to classic Hong Kong action films, a genre that heavily influenced Eusebio. “This movie is a love letter to those ‘80s Hong Kong movies. My love for those films is embedded in Love Hurts. You can see that influence in every frame.”
Many audiences know Quan from The Goonies and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, but not everyone is aware of his stunt background. Eusebio leveraged that knowledge to create intricate, high-energy fight sequences.
“I knew he could handle it, which allowed me to design the kind of action I wanted. He already understood the rhythm and timing of fight choreography, so we could focus on making the scenes exciting and dynamic,” he said.
High stakes
With two Oscar winners headlining his first feature, Eusebio felt the weight of expectation.
“The pressure was immense. I’ve worked on many big projects with the best crews, but this was the hardest. I didn’t want to be the one to mess up Ke’s comeback,” he shared. “I wanted to make sure I told a complete story. The responsibility of leading two recent Oscar winners was daunting, but I couldn’t have asked for a more collaborative and supportive cast.”
While Love Hurts marks a significant milestone, Eusebio isn’t rushing to pick his next project. “I’m just enjoying this moment. I grew up reading comic books, watching anime, and loving martial arts movies. I’ve been fortunate to work on many of those types of films throughout my career. If something stands out to me, I’ll know it’s the right project.”
