Paramount Acquires Infrared’s Jack Quaid & Amber Midthunder Thriller ‘Novocaine;’ Robert Olsen & Dan Berk Direct

EXCLUSIVE: Paramount has acquired Novocaine, an action film with franchise potential that will star Jack Quaid (The Boys), and Amber Midthunder, who was a revelation in the Predator spinoff Prey. Production begins April in South Africa.

Sources pegged Paramount’s commitment in the $30 million range, with Robert Olsen and Dan Berk (Villains) directing a Lars Jacobson script. It is the first go picture for the FilmNation Entertainment production shingle Infrared.

Producers are Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell (Safehouse Pictures), Drew Simon (Infrared Pictures), Infrared’s Sam Speiser and Safehouse’s Matt Schwartz. Lars Jacobson, Paul Barbeau, Josh Adler and Julian Rosenberg (Circle of Confusion) will be executive producers.

Quaid will play a sheltered bank executive named Nathan Caine, who has a rare genetic condition that prevents him from feeling physical pain when he is enduring it. When his bank is robbed and one of his co-workers kidnapped, he has to act and finds his greatest liability becomes his greatest strength. It has the kind of high concept that has propelled films like Die Hard and John Wick to franchise heights. Olsen and Berk also scripted and co-directed Significant Other for Paramount+, with Maika Monroe and Jake Lacy starring.

It’s has starmaking potential for both Quaid – most recently seen in Oppenheimer and announcing the Oscar noms – and Midthunder.

FilmNation handled U.S. rights with CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group. Quaid is repped by UTA and Anonymous Content, Midthunder by CAA and Corner Booth Entertainment.