Blending science fiction and martial arts, the film Skylines sees humanity take the fight directly to the aliens across the cosmos after enduring invasions in 2010's Skyline and 2017's Beyond Skyline. Among the most hardened soldiers leading the charge is Owens, portrayed by prolific actor Daniel Bernhardt.
In an exclusive interview with CBR, Bernhardt talked about his hands-on role helping develop the film's fight sequences, shared how he got the offer to reprise his role as Agent Johnson directly from filmmaker Lana Wachowski in next year's The Matrix 4 and discussed working with Keanu Reeves in the John Wick trilogy.
What first drew you to this project?
Daniel Bernhardt: I've been in this business for 25 years but I'm still amazed when you get a call from your agent saying "Somebody just offered you a job." I got an offer for Skylines to play Owens; [filmmaker] Liam O'Donnell called me up saying he really wanted me for this role, this really fun character. He pitched it to me, I read to the script and it's a really, really fun character. What I thought was fun was, at the beginning, you think he's this really nice guy and then there's a huge twist that I don't want to give away obviously. As an actor, it was a really fun part to play and really challenging.
There's a lot of martial arts guys in this film. How was it working with this crew of martial artists on this project?
Bernhardt: I'm a complete martial arts geek. I love martial arts, I love movie fighting, that's one of my favorite things I do. And I was really proud of this one fight I did against my buddy Cha-Lee Yoon who plays Zhi, that was probably my best fight in the film. Liam was very, very smart and he brought in a team who were all my buddies, a German team from Berlin called Reel Deal Stunts. And my buddy Can Aydin, who was the second unit director, and my buddy Cha choreographed the fights. We got together and he came up like "Daniel, I've got this idea: What if we do an homage to the old Hong Kong movies with like a tracking kung fu fight?" And I loved it, I never get a chance to do that anymore, people only want me to kick or punch. We pitched and Liam loved it, we did it and I think it turned out great; Can shot it on second unit so we were gone for a whole day just playing around fighting, like a kid in a candy store.
There is a lot of practical effects in this film. How was it developing fight scenes with these actors in these big costumes?
Bernhardt: I take my hat off to those guys. My buddy Jeremy, who plays Trent, they were in that suit all day making this film and that was a hard, hard job; they were sweating bullets. We shot it in Lithuania during the summer and they did great. But it was fun for me to be around them, they were cool characters.
One of the things I really liked about the film is your interactions with Lindsey Morgan's character. How was it developing that dynamic in action scenes and dialogue?
Bernhardt: I think it's something that really attracted me to the script. I was very lucky that Lindsey is such a wonderful actor and she is so witty and smart and she can just nail you with one line. The dialogue was set up perfectly, I think the writers did a really good job with that. Liam actually told me yesterday, it's one of his favorite parts, the way my character is structured and what we discover throughout the film. At the beginning, they're arguing but he's a good guy and then something changes and there's a whole different side to it.
Liam worked really closely with the cast to develop their characters. How was it developing Owens with him?
Bernhardt: I think there was really two steps to it: First, I read the script and came in with an idea of what I would do with the part. Then you meet with the director and, usually, the director spends five times more than you on this film so he has ideas that you never thought about so I got a lot of input from Liam. And then I can adjust my character to what he thinks since he's the director and the writer. Once we shoot it, he helps me mold the character, I come with ideas to maybe change this a little bit and then in editing he realizes he could shape the character a little bit more to make him a little bit more friendly and then the twist comes which was a little different than the script.
That was something really interesting that we talked about yesterday but Liam is a wonderful director with how he talks to you. He lets you try what you want to do and then he directs you a little bit in the right way to try this and see how that works so kudos to him.
What is it you look for in developing a fight scene that really gives it that extra kick (no pun intended)?
Bernhardt: I have to be fair: I didn't really choreograph the fights, I helped choreograph the fights. But my buddy Cha was the fight coordinator so he comes up with the idea and then we brainstorm and think of what we think is fun for us to do, what makes sense for the character and if it's something that we will actually shoot. And then, of course, we have to run it by the director and the director always has final approval; you can't start doing something that makes no sense for the movie but Liam was pretty cool with us. He gave us carte blanche but, of course, we had to check with him. He loved basically everything we did
This isn't your first time acting in the science fiction genre and you've got more sci-fi coming. What is it you find appealing as a performer to act in that genre?
Bernhardt: Like I was saying, I'm always flushed when I get called and offered a movie, be it action or drama or sci-fi, I like it all. But I'm a big sci-fi geek, I've always loved sci-fi, always loved Star Wars, always loved Star Trek. Obviously, loved The Matrix and Altered Carbon. I just like the worlds in outer space and different planets and aliens and acting with the creatures. A lot of people complain about green screen but I don't mind it, I love it. "Act like there's something in deep space." "I see it! I've got it!" [laughs].
Since you mentioned The Matrix, I have to ask: You're in The Matrix 4 and you're working with Keanu Reeves again after the previous films and John Wick. How has that experience been?
Bernhardt: I had the pleasure of meeting Keanu Reeves and working with him when we shot The Matrix Reloaded. He was the nicest guy, there isn't a nicer guy on Earth; that's not just talk, that's really true. And I had the chance to work with him on The Matrix Reloaded, John Wick, John Wick 2, John Wick 3 and he is such a gentleman, a hard worker and trains with us. He never quits, he's the most hard-working guy I know, so talented. He will do it a thousand times if you ask him, he will not quit and I feel like he nailed his job as Neo, absolutely fantastic. And with John Wick, I don't think anybody could've done a better job, he did such an amazing job: He is John Wick, he is Neo.
Was working with him on The Matrix 4 like no time had passed at all between you, him and the Wachowskis?
Bernhardt: I see him all the time and he's fantastic and always make me laugh. It was amazing to see Lana, it was so unbelievable. When she offered me the job, she actually saw me in a 7-11 and gives me a big hug and goes "Daniel, oh my God! I want you in the movie, I've got a great idea!" and she offered me the job to be back in The Matrix 4 which is fantastic.
Just to close us out, what you are most excited about with Skylines?
Bernhardt: What I'm excited about with Skylines is that I think Liam gave us a real opportunity to play this part. It's a real acting part, not just a little supporting role. I'm one of the leads, I have a lot of dialogue, I'm part of the movie, I can do my fights and my acting. Altogether, it's really what I love doing.
Written, directed and produced by Liam O'Donnell, Skylines stars Lindsey Morgan, Jonathan Howard, Daniel Bernhardt, Rhona Mitra, James Cosmo and Alexander Siddig. The film will be released in select theaters, on demand and digital Dec. 18.