Simu Liu On Why ‘The Copenhagen Test’ Felt Like Being On ‘Love Island’, Calls Melissa Barrera A “Spectacular Action Star In The Making”

SPOILERS: This post contains details about The Copenhagen TestSeason 1

With his new Peacock sci-fi thriller series, Simu Liu is living out his super spy fantasy in an edge-of-your-seat, eight-episode binge.

The Copenhagen Test star told Deadline it was “something that I’ve always wanted to do” before starring in the Thomas Brandon-created series, which is now available to stream on Peacock, starring Liu as intelligence agent Alexander Hale, whose mind is hacked by a mysterious enemy using the intel to bring down his agency.

“I think on the one hand, it was definitely the premise and the world building, just dealing with themes of surveillance and technology,” he said. “I feel like a lot of those things are really just topical and relevant today. And so, I think there was that. I really appreciated Thomas’ take on this 5 minutes into the future, set in this world of intelligence.”

Liu added, “And then on the other hand, it was the cultural specificity. I really was struck by Alexander’s backstory in the script and feeling like he was somebody who, in a fully three dimensional way, kind of embodied what it was like for someone from an immigrant family to be in a situation or to work in a situation, an environment where they’re constantly being second-guessed, constantly being overlooked and underestimated. I think, for myself, it’s something that a lot of people who grew up in those immigrant families, something that I think resonates a lot.”

As star and executive producer, Liu is happy to be “doing my part and trying to get things made that feel kind of universal, but also culturally specific and just my own unique brand of different.”

With Hale’s mind compromised, his superiors decide to use the hack to their advantage, assigning fellow agent Michelle (Melissa Barrera) to play his girlfriend as they track down the source.

“I told her, it almost feels like being on Love Island. It feels like Michelle and Alexander are in their own reality TV show about finding love, because they’re playing out this romance,” he joked. “And of course, they know the cameras are on, so there’s a part of them that knows that they’re playing it up. … It’s a lot of layers to get to play, and she’s a great scene partner.”

Read on about Simu Liu’s The Copenhagen Test character, the show’s scary real-world parallels and his fight scene with Melissa Barrera.

DEADLINE: What about the project drew you in?

SIMU LIU: I think on the one hand, it was definitely the premise and the world building, just dealing with themes of surveillance and technology. I feel like a lot of those things are really just topical and relevant today. And so, I think there was that. I really appreciated Thomas’ take on this 5 minutes into the future, set in this world of intelligence. And just getting to play a super spy, I think is something that I’ve always wanted to do. And then on the other hand, it was the cultural specificity. I really was struck by Alexander’s backstory in the script and feeling like he was somebody who, in a fully three dimensional way, kind of embodied what it was like for someone from an immigrant family to be in a situation or to work in a situation, an environment where they’re constantly being second-guessed, constantly being overlooked and underestimated. I think, for myself, it’s something that a lot of people who grew up in those immigrant families, something that I think resonates a lot. And so, even though it’s through this terrible hack that happens to him, it’s watching him get to kind of come into his own, watching him get the opportunity to prove himself, everything that he’s capable of. It just was really rewarding to read on the page, and I thought Thomas Brandon did a fantastic job writing the pilot, and when him and James first approached me with it, I was just really sold.

DEADLINE: I definitely noticed that kind of element of American nationalism. It was very an interesting perspective on that topic, and also on surveillance. It made me paranoid like watching it. Did it like give you ideas, like, “Oh my God, this is where things are headed”?

LIU: I mean, it’s less of “this is where things are headed” and more like, “no, this is where we’re already at,” except instead of being hacked against our will, we do it voluntarily, give our information. And we voluntarily keep these recording devices with us and are on it hours and hours and hours a day, and we’re just feeding it data about all of our behaviors and our interests and literally everything. So, it got me really thinking about that, and it made me really want to put my phone away. it was funny, Melissa and I were comparing our screen time apps earlier today, and I don’t know if she told you what her daily average screen time is, but it is astounding, and I don’t think mine is low either by any means. I’m like desperately trying to get that number lower, but I think we both looked at each other and we’re like, “This has gotta change.”

DEADLINE: And I loved the romantic comedy within the spy thriller between the two of you, even though she’s manipulating you the whole time. What was it like balancing that dynamic with her?

LIU: I loved it. To have someone like Melissa to play opposite of, it’s just such a privilege. One of the first things that I realized about her was that she worked in a really similar way as I did. I think there’s actors that come to set, they do their job, and as long as the cameras are rolling, we’re best friends. And then, cut, everyone goes home, and that’s it. But, for me, and I think for Melissa, I think a lot of what we believe is that the on-screen rapport is informed by the off-screen rapport, and so really just invested a lot of time with each other to get to know each other, to get to know how we work. And I really appreciated just how down she was and how much she pushed herself. As much as I realize it’s rare for someone like me to be in a lead position, I feel like she feels the same. And both of us come from immigrant families, from different visible minority communities. And so, we were just like, “Wow, first of all, it’s so incredible that we’re here. Let’s do everything we can to make this the best experience ever, and to do the best we possibly can.”

DEADLINE: I thought it was kind of wild of them to just have sex, knowing that they’re being watched by multiple people, but I thought that was a funny element to their whole up and down.

LIU: Yeah, I told her, it almost feels like being on Love Island. It feels like Michelle and Alexander are in their own reality TV show about finding love, because they’re playing out this romance. And of course, they know the cameras are on, so there’s a part of them that knows that they’re playing it up. But of course, if that’s all it was, I don’t think that would be compelling for an audience to watch. There has to be an element of the audience has to believe that part of that is real, and I think if they do, and if you believe that it’s real, then you believe that there’s a part of both of their characters that really wants it. And whether or not it’s for somebody else, it’s also a little bit for them as well. It’s a lot of layers to get to play, and she’s a great scene partner.

DEADLINE: I also thought your fight scene with Melissa was incredible. It was really fun to watch. Do you have a favorite fight scene or a favorite moment from any of the fights that you filmed on the show?

LIU: I really loved our fight with each other in episode 7. I loved just everything coming to a head with their relationship, and it’s like, finally, maybe for the first time, this is who they really are, each of them. So, I love that so much of Michelle and Alexander is meeting each other for the first time, and then meeting each other for the first time in the basement of the bookstore, and then meeting each other again for the first time, when kind of all bets are off, and it’s just like one has to kill the other. After the whole season and after all the training that she had been through, Melissa was looking really sharp as a fighter, and so, she came to set and she was just ready to come to blows. And it was really fun just to get to to play that with her, and I’m really proud of what we did too. I’m really proud of her. She did a lot, most, if not all of her own stunts, and she’s just the best, a spectacular action star in the making.

DEADLINE: It must have been easy for you with the Shang-Chi experience and all of that.

LIU: It’s weirdly my bread and butter. When I see choreographer or I see stunt people on set, there is weirdly a part of me that feels at ease because I’m like, “Oh, I’m about to go into my flow state.” And for whatever reason, the fight scenes, and the choreography, and the lines, and the rhythm, it all just kind of makes sense to me. It’s almost like a second nature, and I really love doing it. I wish I could do it more. But maybe in a season two, who knows?

DEADLINE: I hope there’s a season 2. The last episode, we find out not only his ex-fiancée was in on this, but also his mentor, and I’m wondering, do you think that he can trust anyone going forward after everything he’s been through?

LIU: Yeah, there’s a lot of trust [issues]. After reading the last script and seeing the few cuts, as they were coming through, I was joking with Thomas and [co-showrunner Jennifer Yale]just like, “This guy’s gonna need so much therapy because he’s been betrayed so many times just in the span of just these few weeks.” It’s a really rough time, but also, what I appreciate about his character at the end of the first season is that he’s at a point where he is no longer looking to others to figure out what to do. He’s not looking to others to give him a sense of belonging. He is very much trusting in himself and his own moral compass, and realizing, “At some point, I have to stop caring what other people think. I’ve spent so long trying to fit in and trying to belong, and now it’s time for me to really just step out and do what I need to do.” And I think if we get the chance to continue his story, I think it’ll be really, really exciting seeing where he takes that.