Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Chad Michael Collins About Sniper: Assassin’s End

Chad Michael Collins answered the call and is fulfilling his duties as Brandon Beckett in the Sniper franchise. The latest installment, Assassin’s End, finds the tables turned on Brandon, who’s on the run, trying to prove his innocence. It’s a twist that no one saw coming. We caught up with Chad to chat about Sniper: Assassin’s End, how the beloved franchise continues to up the bar, and what Brandon has taught him.

PC: The last time we spoke, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was just about to drop. It’s become the best-selling game of 2019 and is currently the best-selling game of 2020. What has that response meant to you? Has anything surprised you since the game came out?
Chad: It’s been awesome to see the response. We were messing with a good thing. We did a reboot of the Modern Warfare franchise, which is beloved amongst all Call of Duty players. It’s an untouchable trilogy back in the day. So we dared to pay tribute to the old trilogy but also put our own stamp and modernize the Modern Warfare game.

We were waiting on bated breath to see how it would be received. It’s been really flattering how well received it’s been. The commercial numbers speak for themselves. People love the characters. They love the rebooted Captain Price. They love Alex, who just came out of nowhere and became a fan favorite. It’s been really flattering.

I knew when we were shooting that we were making something good. You just hope the gamers feel the same way about it. It’s been nice to see the critical and commercial praise all around, and hopefully, we keep going strong and make more.

PC: Your new Sniper film came out last week. This is a franchise that has stood the test of time. What do you think is resonating most with audiences?
Chad: It’s popcorn fun. It’s an action movie. We’re not looking to reinvent the wheel and chase down Oscars. We have the good guys versus the bad guys. Sometimes people love to just reach for that popcorn, sit back, and enjoy ninety minutes of action-packed fun. That’s what we always offer with every installment.

I’m really excited about this one. We layer the sniper and gun stuff with great hand-to-hand combat. You’re going to see a lot of unique fights that you haven’t seen in a Sniper movie before. We’re trying to up the bar rather than just crank out more sequels. I feel like we really nailed it on the head with this one. Hopefully, audiences feel the same way and we keep making more. I’m down to do Sniper 20, as long as they’ll have me.

PC: For you as an actor, what is it like jumping back into this character for the fifth time? I imagine you’re really protective of him and his storyline. When they’re pitching you another Sniper film, how much say do you have in his development?
Chad: Sony does a great job getting writers. In this case, it was a great writer named Oliver Thompson. He came on board to write for us. He was a fan of the franchise to begin with, which always helps. I feel like they took Brandon to new places. They always do a really good job of that. I’m always pleased with the scripts because it’s always a new wrinkle, a new layer, and they always throw a little bit of extra dirt under Brandon’s fingernails for every movie that we do.

Kaare Andrews [director], Oliver Thompson, who also produced, and Daniel Mondschain at Sony were awesome about letting me collaborate. If I ever was on set and I was like, “Hey, look, Brandon has been through this, this, and this. In this situation, I think he’s going to react this way,” or “He won’t get rattled by this guy,” they really took my feedback to heart and let me contribute my ideas, knowing that I’ve been on a ten-year journey with Brandon. They were all kind of new, so they brought fresh eyes and excitement coming to the franchise.

PC: Like you said, the Sniper franchise continues to bring a breath of fresh air to the series. In Sniper: Assassin’s End, we find Brandon being the one that’s hunted. What was your initial reaction when you learned about the plot? Did that change your preparation?
Chad: I loved it, quite honestly. I loved that it was set in North America. That was a first for us. We have been traveling all around the world, filming in global locations. This is a manhunt movie where we’re escaping up to the Pacific Northwest corridor. That was fun and different. I really enjoyed the cat and mouse. I have Lady Death hunting me down. I’ve got the FBI feds trying to bring me in. It’s a question of who is your friend and who is your enemy? That adds to the tension and storytelling. I thought they executed it really well.

PC: Having played this character for years now, has anything surprised you about his journey? What has Brandon taught you?
Chad: Brandon has taught me that there has to be a balance. He starts off married to this job. In this movie, we open it up with him admitting that “Hey, I’m on a two-week break here, man. Leave me alone for a minute. I need this time for me. I’m playing video games. I’m just a normal guy.” That is such a metaphor for real life because I know that I can get really hard-charging about my career. As an actor, you’re always on the hunt for the next gig and trying to survive. Sometimes you need to take a break. Quarantine has forced all of us to take a break. What have I been doing? Playing Call of Duty. [laughs] It’s art imitating life in a funny way.

PC: I love it. In the midst of all the action, there are these really heartfelt moments in this film in particular between Brandon and his father, which brings another layer to this franchise. How did you prepare for those type of scenes?
Chad: Yes! Tom Berenger is back in the fold. For those who don’t know, he originated the role of sniper Thomas Beckett. He was the AWOL father. He was the guy married to his job. Brandon never knew him. There’s this awkwardness as they try to build a relationship.

The movie does a great job linking Tom Berenger’s version with Chad Michael Collins together. Sometimes their relationship works, sometimes it’s awkward. I imagine that’s what it’s like for people in similar situations in real life. We touch on that, and we find ways to connect through our soldier experiences. It’s like, “Let’s start off as friends, Dad. Then we’ll see if we can do the father-son thing.”

PC: If you could pitch a storyline for Brandon, what would it be and why?
Chad: That’s a great question. I love that they’re focusing on some domestic stuff. We’re not a franchise that gets too political, although we do touch on corporate greed in this one a bit. But I do think in our country, there’s a wake-up call going on. There’s a lot of things that we need to take a look at and change. Controversial or not, I feel like Brandon would be involved and inspire a catalyst for change in a good way. It would be interesting to explore this idea of domestic terrorism.

To keep up with Chad, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Sniper: Assassin’s End today.