Move over, superheroes—Jack Quaid just redefined what it means to have a real-life “power.” The Star Trek: Lower Decks and The Boys star is making headlines for his transformative role in the upcoming thriller Novocaine, where he channeled a rare neurological condition into a jaw-dropping performance. But here’s the twist: Quaid didn’t just act the part—he turned a real-life challenge into his character’s greatest strength.
Quaid, known for playing quirky heroes and lovable underdogs, revealed in a recent interview that his character in Novocaine suffers from prosopagnosia, a rare disorder that makes recognizing faces nearly impossible. But instead of treating it as a weakness, Quaid worked with neuroscientists and patients to flip the script. “I wanted this condition to feel like a sixth sense,” he said. “In the film, my character uses his inability to recognize faces to ‘see’ people’s true intentions instead. It’s eerie, almost supernatural.”
Director Lena Cole praised Quaid’s approach, calling it “genius.” “Jack didn’t just mimic the symptoms—he embodied the frustration and hyper-awareness that comes with prosopagnosia,” she shared. “By the end, you’re convinced his character has a legit superpower.”
In Novocaine, Quaid plays a reclusive pharmacist entangled in a deadly conspiracy. His character’s prosopagnosia becomes critical when he starts decoding hidden clues in customers’ behaviors, not their appearances. Early test audiences reportedly went wild for the fresh twist, with one viewer calling it “Sherlock Holmes meets A Beautiful Mind—but cooler.”
Fans are already buzzing online, with tweets like, “Jack Quaid turning a disability into a superhero trait? That’s the content I NEED.” Others are speculating about Oscar’s potential, though Quaid stays humble: “I just wanted to do justice to people who live with this every day. If it helps someone feel seen, that’s the real win.”
Novocaine hits theaters November 17—and you’ll never look at a “weakness” the same way again.