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Cast of the Copenhagen Test – Full Cast and Character Guide

Benjamin Mason Walker Cooper • 2026-04-17 • Reviewed by Ethan Collins

The Copenhagen Test arrived on Peacock in late 2025, bringing together an ensemble cast in a science fiction spy thriller that explored themes of surveillance, identity, and manipulated reality. The series featured Simu Liu in a lead role alongside Melissa Barrera and Sinclair Daniel, with supporting performances from established television actors. This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of the cast and characters based on available information.

Created by Thomas Brandon, the eight-episode first season premiered on December 27, 2025. Peacock canceled the series after one season in April 2026, meaning no further episodes or cast additions will follow. The information below reflects what has been officially confirmed through sources including Wikipedia and Peacock’s official coverage.

Who Stars in the Main Cast of The Copenhagen Test?

The principal cast centers on three characters whose relationships drive the narrative. Simu Liu portrays Alexander Hale, a Chinese-American military veteran and former special forces sniper who works as a low-level intelligence analyst at a facility called the Orphanage. His character’s brain is described as being hacked, with his eyes and ears serving as entry points for external manipulation. This setup forces Alexander to question everything he perceives as real.

Melissa Barrera plays Michelle Cyr, a French-Canadian field agent assigned as Alexander’s fake girlfriend. Her mission involves monitoring and protecting him, though she has also been authorized to eliminate him if circumstances require. The dynamic between them blurs the lines between genuine connection and manufactured affection, creating tension throughout the series.

Sinclair Daniel portrays Samantha Parker, an intelligence analyst who is a recent addition to the Orphanage team. Unlike Alexander, Samantha possesses knowledge of the orchestrated events happening around him. She predicts and arranges developments in his hacked reality, understanding him deeply despite his complete ignorance of her role in his situation.

Confirmed Casting Information

The main cast consists of Simu Liu, Melissa Barrera, and Sinclair Daniel in lead roles. Each character’s storyline interconnects through the Orphanage organization and Alexander’s compromised perception of reality.

Main Cast Overview

Actor Character Role Description
Simu Liu Alexander Hale Military veteran, former special forces sniper, intelligence analyst at the Orphanage
Melissa Barrera Michelle Cyr Field agent assigned as Alexander’s fake girlfriend; mission includes monitoring, protection, and potential elimination
Sinclair Daniel Samantha Parker Intelligence analyst, recent Orphanage addition, orchestrator of events in Alexander’s reality
Brian d’Arcy James Peter Moira Director of Operations at the Orphanage

Key Insights About the Cast

  • Simu Liu, known for his role in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” brings action credentials to the character of Alexander Hale
  • Melissa Barrera’s role as Michelle Cyr requires her to balance genuine emotion with operational deception throughout the series
  • Sinclair Daniel’s character Samantha Parker operates as the architect of Alexander’s manipulated reality, creating a unique power dynamic
  • Brian d’Arcy James appears as Peter Moira, providing authority and institutional perspective as Director of Operations
  • The production team includes horror filmmaker James Wan as an executive producer through Atomic Monster
  • Jet Wilkinson directed the series premiere episodes, establishing the visual and narrative tone
  • Series creator Thomas Brandon serves as writer and executive producer, with Jennifer Yale as co-showrunner

Cast of The Copenhagen Test Season 1

Season 1 consists of eight episodes released simultaneously on December 27, 2025. The full season premiered in its entirety on Peacock, allowing viewers to stream all episodes at once. This release strategy meant the entire cast ensemble appeared across the complete first season.

Beyond the principal roles, the series features recurring cast members who support the narrative. Adina Porter plays Marlowe, the Director of Intelligence at the Orphanage, a position that places her in direct oversight of the operations involving Alexander and other analysts.

Supporting analysts include Sara Amini as Ellie, who works under Samantha Parker’s direction, and Marnie McPhail as Frances, another analyst within the organization. Hannah Cruz portrays Dr. Rachel Kasperian, Alexander’s ex-fiancée, whose presence in his life predates the events of the series and adds personal stakes to his increasingly disorienting circumstances.

Season 1 Episode Reference

Episodes 1 and 2 were directed by Jet Wilkinson. Episode 8 features key scenes between Alexander and Michelle. Detailed information about Episode 4 specifically has not been publicly documented in available sources.

Series regular appearances include Mark O’Brien and Kathleen Chalfant in recurring capacities, with Saul Rubinek also appearing in the ensemble. The production brought together actors with diverse backgrounds in television, film, and streaming content, reflecting the series’ ambition to blend genres including science fiction, spy thriller, and psychological drama.

Cast Details for The Copenhagen Test Season 2

The Copenhagen Test was canceled after one season, with Peacock announcing the decision in April 2026. This means no Season 2 was ever produced, and consequently, no additional cast members were announced or confirmed for future episodes.

The series had been picked up by Peacock in February 2024 under its original working title “Copenhagen,” which was revealed in October 2024. The title change to “The Copenhagen Test” occurred before the December 2025 premiere, but this modification did not affect the confirmed cast lineup.

Series Cancellation Notice

Season 2 will not be produced. Peacock canceled the series after one season in April 2026. No further casting announcements or episode production are expected.

For viewers seeking additional projects from the cast, Simu Liu continues to be active in film and television, while Melissa Barrera and Sinclair Daniel remain involved in various programming across streaming platforms. Brian d’Arcy James maintains his recurring presence in quality television productions.

Key Characters and Actors in The Copenhagen Test

Several character names have appeared in search queries that do not appear in confirmed sources. These include Victor, Henry, and references to a chef character. Available official information about the series does not include these as named roles in the cast or character list.

Hannah Cruz plays Dr. Rachel Kasperian, identified as Alexander’s ex-fiancée. However, sources do not confirm whether this character is connected to any “chef” narrative or to characters named Victor or Henry. The available documentation focuses on the main cast and recurring ensemble rather than extensive character backstories or secondary figures.

Peter Moira, played by Brian d’Arcy James, serves as the Director of Operations, while Adina Porter’s character Marlowe holds the Director of Intelligence position. These organizational roles establish the hierarchy within the Orphanage but are not expanded upon in available episode summaries or cast descriptions.

Episodes 1 and 2 establish the core characters and their initial positions within the narrative. Episode 8 delivers significant developments between Alexander and Michelle, according to Peacock’s official cast and character materials. Episode 4, however, lacks documented details in publicly available sources, including any appearances by specific guest actors or additional characters.

Character Clarification Table

Searched Character Status in Available Sources
Victor Not confirmed as a named character in the series
Chef No chef character identified in available cast lists
Henry Not confirmed as a named character in the series
Dr. Rachel Kasperian Alexander’s ex-fiancée, played by Hannah Cruz
Peter Moira Director of Operations, played by Brian d’Arcy James

Where to Watch The Copenhagen Test and Its Cast

The Copenhagen Test streams exclusively on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming platform. All eight episodes of Season 1 became available on December 27, 2025, allowing subscribers to watch the complete series at their own pace.

Peacock offers the series as part of its regular subscription tiers, with no additional premium charges for individual titles. The platform provides streaming access across multiple devices including smart TVs, mobile apps, and web browsers.

For viewers interested in the cast members’ other work, Simu Liu is available on various platforms through his filmography including Marvel productions. Melissa Barrera’s previous work spans several television productions, while Sinclair Daniel appears in other contemporary series.

The series does not require a premium Peacock upgrade beyond standard subscription access. Those looking to explore the cast in other roles can find information through Cast of Divorced Sistas – Complete Guide to Leads and Roles or similar resources covering television ensembles.

Production Timeline

The development and release of The Copenhagen Test followed a compressed timeline from initial pickup to cancellation.

  1. February 2024: Peacock picks up the series, originally titled “Copenhagen”
  2. October 2024: Official announcement reveals the title change to “The Copenhagen Test”
  3. December 27, 2025: All eight episodes premiere on Peacock
  4. April 2026: Peacock announces series cancellation after one season

The series was created by Thomas Brandon, who served as writer and executive producer. Jennifer Yale co-showrun the production. Executive producers included James Wan, Michael Clear, and Rob Hackett through Atomic Monster, along with Simu Liu, Mark Winemaker, and Jet Wilkinson.

What Is Known and What Remains Unclear

Established Information Unconfirmed or Unavailable Details
Main cast: Simu Liu, Melissa Barrera, Sinclair Daniel Specific details about Episode 4 guest appearances
Recurring cast: Brian d’Arcy James, Adina Porter, Sara Amini, Marnie McPhail, Hannah Cruz Character information for Victor, Henry, or chef roles
Season 1: 8 episodes released December 27, 2025 Detailed episode-by-episode cast breakdowns
Season 2: Not produced, canceled April 2026 Expanded character backstories for supporting cast
Streaming: Peacock exclusive Full credits beyond main and recurring ensemble
Series creator: Thomas Brandon Interview content or behind-the-scenes materials

The Context Behind The Copenhagen Test

The series arrived during a period of increased investment in science fiction content by streaming platforms. Its premise—a protagonist whose perception of reality is externally manipulated through neurological intrusion—placed it within a subgenre exploring surveillance, identity, and the reliability of human senses.

The casting choices reflected an effort to combine established talent with emerging performers. Simu Liu brought mainstream recognition from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, while Melissa Barrera had built a following through horror and drama productions. Sinclair Daniel’s casting represented an opportunity to feature a rising performer in a substantive central role.

Production involvement from James Wan, primarily known for horror and supernatural thrillers through his Atomic Monster company, suggested potential tonal overlaps between psychological manipulation and supernatural unease. However, the confirmed genre classification emphasizes science fiction and spy thriller elements rather than horror conventions.

The decision to cancel the series after a single season limited opportunities to expand the ensemble or explore character relationships in greater depth. Viewers interested in similar ensemble-based science fiction narratives can explore alternatives through dedicated streaming guides and television coverage.

Sources and References

The cast and character information in this guide derives from official sources including Wikipedia’s coverage of The Copenhagen Test and Peacock’s published cast and character descriptions. These sources document the main cast, recurring ensemble, production team, and release information.

The Copenhagen Test is an American science fiction spy thriller television series created by Thomas Brandon for Peacock, starring Simu Liu as Alexander Hale and Melissa Barrera as Michelle Cyr, with Sinclair Daniel as Samantha Parker.

— Wikipedia / Peacock Official Materials

Additional coverage appears on the PeacockTV.com blog, which provides character-focused introductions to the lead roles. YouTube interviews with Simu Liu and Melissa Barrera offer perspectives on their approaches to the material, though these are not included in standard episode guides or cast documentation.

For comprehensive credits including guest stars and episode-specific appearances, IMDb provides database-level documentation. Full cast tables and production credits are maintained as reference materials for subscribers and researchers.

Summary

The Copenhagen Test features a focused ensemble centered on Simu Liu, Melissa Barrera, and Sinclair Daniel in its lead roles. Supporting performances come from Brian d’Arcy James, Adina Porter, Sara Amini, Marnie McPhail, and Hannah Cruz, among others. The series premiered on Peacock on December 27, 2025, with all eight episodes available for streaming, and was canceled in April 2026 after one season.

Several characters searched by viewers—including Victor, Henry, and a chef role—do not appear in confirmed sources. Episode-specific cast details remain limited, particularly for Episode 4. The information available focuses on principal cast members and their primary character functions within the Orphanage organization.

Those interested in exploring similar ensemble television can find additional casting guides and release information through resources like House of the Dragon Season 3 – Release Date, Cast and Plot Details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who plays the main character in The Copenhagen Test?

Simu Liu plays Alexander Hale, a Chinese-American military veteran and former special forces sniper whose reality is manipulated by outside forces.

Is The Copenhagen Test available on Netflix?

No, The Copenhagen Test streams exclusively on Peacock. It is not available on Netflix or other competing platforms.

Will there be a Season 2 of The Copenhagen Test?

No, Peacock canceled The Copenhagen Test after one season in April 2026. No Season 2 will be produced.

Who is the ex-fiancée in The Copenhagen Test?

Hannah Cruz plays Dr. Rachel Kasperian, identified as Alexander’s ex-fiancée. Sources do not confirm additional details about her occupation or connections to other characters.

Who plays Samantha Parker in The Copenhagen Test?

Sinclair Daniel portrays Samantha Parker, an intelligence analyst at the Orphanage who orchestrates events within Alexander’s manipulated reality.

Does Victor appear in The Copenhagen Test?

Victor is not confirmed as a named character in available sources documenting the cast and episodes of The Copenhagen Test.

How many episodes are in Season 1?

The Copenhagen Test Season 1 contains eight episodes, all released on December 27, 2025.

What genre is The Copenhagen Test?

The series is classified as an American science fiction spy thriller, exploring themes of surveillance, identity manipulation, and fractured perception of reality.

Benjamin Mason Walker Cooper

About the author

Benjamin Mason Walker Cooper

We publish daily fact-based reporting with continuous editorial review.