Alexander Abbey
2026-01-20 16:09:00
The Copenhagen Test is one of the most exciting new shows on streaming, but this high-stakes spy thriller isn’t just worth watching for the intrigue and action. It also happens to be one of the most diverse shows in recent years, both in front of and behind the camera. I spoke with Marilyn Fu, one of the writers on the show, about her experience building the world of The Copenhagen Test, and how the show’s diversity came to be.
Asian Representation
The Asian representation in The Copenhagen Test is front and center, with action star Simu Liu playing the lead character Alexander Hale. Marilyn explained that this was extremely intentional.
“[Simu Liu] had been on this project and cast as Alexander Hale before the writer’s room even came together. Thomas [Brandon] had teamed up with James Wan and they decided they were only gonna make this together if the main character was Asian American.”
Some, including Simu Liu, have been critical of Hollywood’s seeming regression in Asian representation in recent years. When I asked about the level of representation in The Copenhagen Test, Marilyn spoke about how important it was to her, personally.
“It’s great, it’s a miracle. It’s not something that you can plan… in all of my work I’m always striving for representation. With Rosemead, it was about writing a starring role for an Asian woman. For The Copenhagen Test, it was about putting people in the shoes of a Chinese-American person who is constantly proving his loyalty to his government.”
Diversity on Display
The diversity in The Copenhagen Test goes far beyond Asian representation. Marilyn spoke about how the cast formed organically, with no limitations on the backgrounds of the characters or the actors.
“There was always a sense in the room, and from the showrunners, that as we were exploring different story-lines, these characters could have different backgrounds. It was always open. Now, I’ve worked on other projects and shows, I won’t say exactly which ones, where we’ve actually given ideas for the characters to be diverse and it’s been shot down for that very reason….[On[OnThe Copenhagen Test]we always knew that was a place we could go, and that there would be an openness to the characters as written. That their ethnic backgrounds could go in different places and be open to what the best actor could bring to that.”
Marilyn specifically called out actresses Melissa Barrera and Sinclair Daniel.
“I think they’re both fantastic in this. They also represent such strong female characters with different motivations. They’re complicated. I appreciate how Thomas was able to set the stage to allow these characters to come to life in an interesting way, and then allow us to run with it.”
With a cast full of talented actors, and writers like Marilyn Fu, there’s no shortage of reasons to watch The Copenhagen Test. But underneath the action and adventure is a beautifully blended team, each bringing their own perspectives to the table. In a world where diversity in media can still sometimes feel like a struggle, it’s a wonderful opportunity to support diversity and representation.
