In January 2017, I wrote a piece on actor Dennis Quaid, whose latest film “A Dog’s Purpose” was set to open. Here we are, a little more than two years later, and that K-9 adventure is getting a sequel… with Quaid back.
He and Josh Gad reprise their roles in “A Dog’s Journey”, out May 17th. But before then… this Thursday in fact… you can see Quaid as “The Intruder” in the new suspense thriller. I’ve been seeing the trailer of this for months.
Usually, when I write that kind of sentence, it’s plural: trailers. But Sony’s Screen Gems has just kept showing the same, single trailer over and over again since last year. And it’s not a restrained one. It pretty much gives away the entire movie… so we think.
7 or 8 years ago, this role might’ve gone to Liam Neeson. And it would’ve fit comfortably in his revenge, mystery action/thriller genre. But Neeson’s controversial remarks on the topic earlier this year, while promoting “Cold Pursuit”, may have ended that phase of his career.
If “The Intruder” is a success, I could see Quaid taking over that kind of persona in future film projects. And Sony hopes this is the case, even moving up this week’s Thursday previews from 7pm to 5pm – to stay ahead of comedy competitor, “Long Shot”.
Quaid is a busy guy: he’s dominating TV screens in funny Esurance ads, is in a new country music video for the band Midland, and is part of the ensemble of Roland Emmerich’s “Midway”, out in November. And he’s set to play former President Ronald Reagan in a biopic that’s been years in the making.
Remember when Quaid infamously yelled “DENNIS QUAID IS HERE” in a coffee shop (shown on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”)? Well, guess what? Dennis Quaid is Still Here.