It's a race against time — and plenty of governmental red tape — to save a loved one in Echo 3. The series revolves around two decorated military special operatives, brothers-in-law Prince and Bambi, who are stopping at nothing to rescue Amber from the grips of a drug cartel down in Colombia, even as dark secrets about the three of them come to the surface.
Luke Evans, Michiel Huisman, and Jessica Ann Collins lead the ensemble cast of Echo 3 alongside Elizabeth Anweis, James Udom, Maria Del Rosario, Bradley Whitford, and Martina Gusmán. Created by two-time Oscar winner Mark Boal, the series is a gripping exploration of why men go to war, the effects it has on their psyches and personal relationships, and how love isn't always as strong as it should be.
In honor of the show's recent finale, Screen Rant spoke exclusively with Huisman to discuss Echo 3, the extensive training underwent for the series' action sequences, the emotional cliffhanger finale, his thoughts on a potential season 2, and his own future.
Warning: SPOILERS for Echo 3
Huisman on Echo 3 Finale, The Future & More
Screen Rant: Last we spoke was just prior to Echo 3 coming out. I believe you had gotten shot and were separated from Amber once again, and the rest of that journey delivered so many more interesting layers of whether Prince wanted to move on or keep trying to rescue her. What was it like exploring that struggle?
Michiel Huisman: I thought it was so well-written that it was not very hard to relate to the struggle, even the terrible decisions that Prince makes while he's home and recovering. He ends up cheating on his wife while she's still stuck somewhere in the jungle in Colombia, but I felt like it was all handed to me. The flaws of the character were all there, and I could sort of take them on in order to build this guy and in his troubles.
What would you say was one of your biggest creative challenges in playing the heart of Prince?
Michiel Huisman: Well, I think probably one of Prince's biggest flaws is his need to be in control. I think that getting there, and understanding that, and feeling that was probably the biggest challenge for me when it came to this character. It doesn't necessarily make him a very likable guy at all times, even if he means well, the way he goes about it, it's [wrong].
But, of course, I think the big arc for Prince is that desire to control people around his, especially his wife. The catharsis is that it just comes flying back in his face, because it means he basically is pushing everybody away.
I especially love the finale conversation between you, where you finally let down your control because you don't want to lose her. What was going through your mind as you were shooting that day and working with Jessica?
Michiel Huisman: What's very satisfying about making a TV show like this, which took place over a long period of time; about 10 months, is that you really feel like you have a handle on your character. You don't feel like you need to push very hard to get to a certain place, because it's already there. You've been doing it for months. So, when we're getting ready to shoot a scene like that, I just feel like as long as I know my lines, this is gonna be fun. [Chuckles]
We have something to play; something to sink our teeth into, and we end up shooting the scene on a strip of sand on this deserted island just off of Cartagena, where we only have like 30 minutes to shoot it, because of the sunlight and the position of the sun. There was a lot of wind, too, that day. It's a very intimate scene, but we have to speak up because we're standing close to the water, which makes noise. The wind makes a lot of noise, so we could barely hear each other.
Honestly, all those challenges I always love, because it just propels you in a direction, and there's no fighting it, you just gotta go. I always love when there's an element to our shoot that is sort of beyond our control, and on this show, that happened a lot, whether it was that scene, or an action sequence in the marketplace, or even on the mountain in the snow. I mean, the director tells you, "Run from A to B," and then you start running and you sink into the snow up until the middle [of your body], and you're like, "There's no way I can run!" [Laughs] I like that kind of stuff.
This show has some of the most impressive, cinematic-scale action scenes I've seen from a military drama on TV, especially episode 9. How much training and rehearsal did episode 9 require, for the big ambush on the compound in order to save Amber?
Michiel Huisman: God, I felt like we shot that forever. It took a couple of weeks, mostly nights, and it was pretty tough. A lot of rehearsing on location, a lot of shotlisting, but we were very fortunate to not only have a great stunt coordinator, but also a great stunt team and doubles and all that stuff.
Also, our military advisor was always there at every rehearsal. Whenever the camera was not rolling, he would be right next to me, pushing me, telling me what to do, and I love that too. By episode 9, you've been doing it for probably nine months, so it starts to get a bit more intuitive, which is a great feeling. Now that I have that skill, the question is, are we gonna do it again? [Chuckles]
I feel like there are just enough threads left open in this show that it would be really interesting to explore a second season Have you had any talks with Mark about the possible future?
Michiel Huisman: Not really. While we were still shooting, we had maybe one or two conversations about it very briefly, but I felt that it was still a bit [early] that he had a couple of different ideas for season 2. Right now, I'm just waiting for Apple to decide. I have the feeling that they're very happy with how the show is doing, but of course, the decision of whether or not to make a second season is about more than just that. I'm expecting a decision anytime soon, and I can't wait to see what Mark has in store for these characters in a second season.
What would you like to see personally from your character going into a second season?
Michiel Huisman: By the end of this season, I think Prince has come to realize that he's driving people away by being so controlling. I guess in season 2, he needs to reckon with that, and he would have to try to change. But, I think it's very hard; it will be very hard. So, that is something that I'm sure we would explore in season 2. I'm really speaking from my own perspective and, of course, from Prince's perspective.
Another thing I really liked, although it did also very much surprise me, was the big surprise for Prince and Bambi towards the end of the show. Of course, that they finally save Amber, and she's not happy to be back with them. I think that's a huge shock to Prince that he never expected. I think there was a part of his mind that he thought that maybe they wouldn't be able to pull it off; there's a chance that they couldn't save her. But to save her, and then she wouldn't be flying back in his arms, is a shock. [Chuckles] Where does their relationship go from there? I would be very curious to see that.
I don't know if you remember those final scenes in the boat when they're trying to escape with Mitch, but they seem so intimate, and that was not in the script. While we're shooting, this is a big powerboat, but it's tiny. There's room for seven people or something on the boat, and there's four actors. I tthink there's only the camera operator, director, and the sound guy, probably. Mark was also doing a lot of the camerawork when we were on that boat; he was doing a couple of shots, and that's when he told Jessica, "Go up to the front with Mitch."
Then, all of a sudden, there's this moment where Bambi and Prince are sitting in the back of the boat and watching the two of them, and Prince is really thinking, "What is this? How well do these people know each other?" That needs to be addressed, I think. I'm curious to see what happens there.
I couldn't agree more, I think there's so many different angles that a season 2 could go down for all of your characters, so I've got my fingers crossed for you. You, of course, have a history with the Game of Thrones franchise, which returned to screens with House of the Dragon. Did you get the chance at all to watch while it was on?
Michiel Huisman: Not yet, no, I haven't seen it yet.
Are you gonna give it a shot? I remember reading recently Emilia Clarke said she felt kind of odd giving the show a watch.
Michiel Huisman: I haven't decided yet. There's so much great stuff out there, it's hard to keep up with everything. Yeah, I don't know.
That's fair, I have a hard time keeping up with as much as there is.
Michiel Huisman: And it's your job! [Laughs]
Exactly! We also have Rebel Moon coming up and finally got the first little bit of footage from it recently. How did it feel for you to join this epic, two-part universe and work with Zack Snyder?
Michiel Huisman: It was an amazing opportunity, and, of course, a very different experience. I ended up going literally from shooting Echo 3 to Los Angeles to prep for Rebel Moon, and it was a bit of a shock going from shooting a scene on a little island to stepping into the world that is Zack Snyder's. Imagine big sets, and yes, it's a very different working environment. How amazing to be able to do both.
It is quite the range that you're gonna get to act in, and I'm really looking forward to when we finally can get to learn more. I know you can't share more.
Michiel Huisman: No, you started talking about the movie, and I'm like, "Oh, no, I have to pay attention, because they really want to keep it under wraps." So, I am 100 percent sure that we're going to talk about it soon, I think Rebel Moon is going to come out in December. At some point in the fall, we'll talk about Rebel Moon, and I'll tell you a lot more, okay? [Chuckles]
I'm a big fan of Mike Flanagan's, and I loved your work in Hill House. Have you had any talks with him about trying to reunite on one of his future projects?
Michiel Huisman: No, we haven't been talking about that, but who knows? Flanagan is one of the most prolific writers out there. He's always working on so many different ideas, so who knows what the future brings?
About Echo 3
“Echo 3” is based on the award-winning series “When Heroes Fly,” created by Omri Givon and inspired by the eponymous novel by Amir Gutfreund. Set in South America, the action-packed thriller follows Amber Chesborough, a brilliant young scientist who is the emotional heart of a small American family. When Amber goes missing along the Colombia-Venezuela border her brother, Bambi, and her husband, Prince — two men with deep military experience and complicated pasts — struggle to find her in a layered personal drama, set against the explosive backdrop of a secret war.
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Echo 3 is now streaming in its entirety on Apple TV+.