Darren Lipari of '21 Bridges’ had 'wow moments' working with JK Simmons, Chad Boseman and Sienna Miller in cop thriller
Darren Lipari wears many hats -- actor, director and writer -- and has quite a portfolio to his credit. Lipari has been a face across popular television shows like 'Mr Robot', 'Girls', 'The Blacklist' and 'Law and Order' – to name a few. But his latest project, '21 Bridges,’ is what is getting him all the attention.
Lipari is not new to the world of crime-thriller and action movies after having worked prolifically in the genre. Despite having played the role of a cop multiple times, he feels that the persona of the cop that he essays keeps on changing.
“I often ask, what type of cop is he, has he gone through some trauma, is he a fighter, and so on. Now I see myself fitting into the role of a cop, but across various shades.”
How Lipari landed the role in '21 Bridges' is a story in itself. Never having worked before with Brian Kirk, the role of Lt. Kelly happened out of the blue. He auditioned for the role and he found a connection between the Irish director, his Gaelic name, and even the character in the movie being Irish.
Next, when we asked him about his chemistry with his co-stars, he candidly shared his excitement about having a “pinch-me” moment with actors like J.K. Simmons, Sienna Miller, Taylor Kitsch, and more, with whom he has worked earlier, admired, and looked up to as inspirations.
“I am a filmmaker and an actor, but am also a fan. So yeah, I had those wow moments working with such big names.”
With Chadwick Boseman, however, Darren shares a special relationship. “When I got the part, I was only attached to Chadwick. I always respected him as a character actor. A star like him being attached to the project, and the rest of the ensemble cast, I knew it would be a great project to work on. But at the same time, I knew we were collaborators, and we had a great bonding opportunity, watching and learning from people I adore.”
Directed by Brian Kirk and produced by Joe and Anthony Russo, the action thriller movie follows NYPD cop Andre Davis (Boseman), who is on a manhunt to find the killers who murdered NYPD cops. Lipari plays the role of Lt. Kelly, who assists Davis in his hunt for the killers. Together, they will leave no stone unturned to find the two perpetrators who killed eight of his fellowmen in a robbery gone wrong, even if it means bringing the whole of New York City under lockdown.
'21 Bridges' releases in theaters on November 22, 2019.