As Super Bowl LVIII approaches, fans can expect an onslaught of celebrity endorsements, cleverly crafted ads, and thrilling film trailers. But one film has decided to get a jumpstart on the excitement: Novocaine, an action-packed rollercoaster from Paramount, has released its official Super Bowl trailer ahead of the big game.
Directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, Novocaine follows the gripping story of Nate (played by Jack Quaid), a man with Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis (CIPA), a rare condition that leaves him unable to feel pain. When the woman of his dreams, played by Amber Midthunder, is kidnapped during a high-stakes bank heist, Nate’s inability to feel pain transforms into a surprising advantage as he fights to save her.
The film, which also stars Ray Nicholson, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh, Lou Beatty Jr., Evan Hengst, Conrad Kemp, and Jacob Batalon, is slated for release in theaters on March 14, 2025. In the Super Bowl trailer, Nate faces a series of seemingly insurmountable challenges, using his unique condition to survive perilous situations and track down his love interest, the only person who has ever made him feel something.
In an exclusive interview, Novocaine directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen discussed the portrayal of CIPA in the film, acknowledging the liberties taken for dramatic effect. “It’s a fascinating medical condition,” they said. “While we push the boundaries of reality for the sake of storytelling, we wanted to highlight how someone with this disability could turn it into a powerful weapon. Our protagonist, Nate, has always seen himself as a liability, but through his journey, he learns to turn that disability into a superpower.”
The directors also noted the positive response from test audiences, who found inspiration in the idea of a character embracing their disability rather than being ashamed of it. “It resonated with people,” they explained. “They appreciated seeing someone use their condition to their advantage, seeing it as a strength rather than a weakness.”
With its heart-pounding action and a hero who transforms a unique challenge into a weapon, Novocaine promises to be a must-see film when it hits theaters in March.
