Simu Liu didn’t come out unscathed while performing stunts for his upcoming Peacock series The Copenhagen Test. The Shang-Chi star, 36, revealed to PEOPLE that he insisted on doing his own stunts in the espionage thriller, where he plays Alexander, a Chinese-American intelligence analyst caught between his secretive agency and mysterious hackers.
“I got kicked in the face. Yeah. Many, many, many times,” Liu laughed, reflecting on the intense action sequences. Despite the efforts of stunt coordinators James and Chris Mark to ensure safety, he acknowledged that stunt work always carries inherent risks.
“When you’re running full speed through a hallway, blasting through people, stuff’s gonna happen. Stuff’s gonna go wrong,” he said, adding that he’s experienced being kicked, thrown, and slammed into objects on set.
Liu explained that while some actors rely on stunt doubles to avoid injury—which is perfectly reasonable—doing one’s own stunts offers editors greater flexibility in post-production. “When actors do their own stunts, it gives the editor infinite more optionality in terms of where to cut and when,” he said.
His competitive nature drives him to take on these challenges. “Probably to my own detriment, I’m way too competitive. Ever since I was 4, if I see someone doing something I think I could do as well or better, I always say, ‘Great. Get me in there. I want in,’” Liu admitted.
Liu’s co-star Melissa Barrera shares the same fearless approach, making them a dynamic duo on set. “She’d say, ‘Again, again, again,’ impressing our stunt team and insisting on doing her own stunts. That’s one of the things I love most about her,” he said.
In the series, Liu’s character Alexander faces a life-altering challenge when his brain is hacked, giving perpetrators access to everything he sees and hears. He must maintain a constant performance to uncover the hackers and prove where his true allegiance lies.
The Copenhagen Test is set to premiere on Peacock on December 27.
