Academy Award-winning filmmaker Mark Boal brings his penchant for searing military action and tense political thrillers to Apple TV+ for the new original series Echo 3. Loosely adapting the 2018 Israeli television series When Heroes Fly, Echo 3 follows two special ops soldiers, Prince (Michiel Huisman) and Bambi (Luke Evans), who venture deep into the most dangerous corners of Colombia when Amber Chesborough (Jessica Ann Collins), Prince's wife and Bambi's sister, is kidnapped. In addition to providing this new twist on the story, Boal serves as series writer, executive producer, and director on several episodes.
In an exclusive interview with CBR, Boal discussed Echo 3's larger themes and praised the cast, including the local cast from the show's Latin American shoot, for their dedication to the intensive production. He also explained why he changed up the series' setting to Colombia after previously writing and producing films set in the Middle East, like the acclaimed The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty.
CBR: There is a focus on family in Echo 3, both the family that we're born into and brothers-in-arms forged along the way. What was it about having these themes front and center?
Mark Boal: I think the family theme is something that we can all relate to. These themes that we explore throughout the season of trust and honesty and [the] price of dishonesty -- the idea was to juxtapose those themes inside of a really tense, action-packed thriller story. There's an emotional mix of dopamine hits that you get when you're watching.
You've done stories in Pakistan and the Middle East before. What was it about setting this shadow conflict inside of Colombia?
I've set three movies inside of the Middle East. I feel that it would be to our national benefit, if that doesn't sound too highfalutin', to consider putting more of our attention on Latin America. Our neighbors to the south are so important to us, and Colombia is such an amazingly interesting and beautiful country. Rather than just tell another terrorism story set in the Middle East, it felt like this could be something that could bring a new vibe into the mix.
How was it working with your cast, like Luke Evans and Michiel Huisman, to bring this story to life?
I think we got a great cast, but maybe I'm biased in that. Luke Evans, Jessica Ann Collins, Michiel Huisman, and many more actors than that -- there is a big cast of Colombian actors and actors from all over Latin America -- they bring the show to life. I think they turned in some very honest, and you can even say brave, performances. I'm just super grateful that they stepped up to the plate for us.
Absolutely. Y'all put them through the wringer, and they definitely delivered.
We did, we did put them through the wringer a little bit. [laughs]
Created by Mark Boal, Echo 3 premieres Wednesday, Nov. 23 on Apple TV+, with new episodes released Wednesdays.