Spy Kids returns! After four major movies and a lesser-known two-season animated TV show on Netflix, it seemed that the franchise had maybe ground to a halt. But with the original creator Robert Rodriguez back in the director’s chair, Spy Kids returns for a fifth movie. Here’s a rundown of what we know so far about the movie and for the time being, the rest is classified.
Is this Spy Kids 5?
Spy Kids: Armageddon is the fifth movie in the franchise but it is not Spy Kids 5. Pitched as a reboot, the movie won’t continue any of the storylines from previous movies. Instead, it focuses on a whole new set of characters and ideas.
That means it looks unlikely that we will see the Cortez family play out their espionage antics on screen this time. That means goodbye to Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara who starred as the original Spy Kids, Carmen and Juni. A reboot also means goodbye to the incredible performances of Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino who played secret agent couple Gregorio and Ingrid Cortez. While we can’t rule out any cameo appearances, the reboot looks set to change things in the world of Spy Kids forever with a new cast taking on new missions.
Who’s making Spy Kids: Armageddon? Cast And Crew
Franchise creator Robert Rodriguez returns to reboot Spy Kids and remake his original story for a new generation. The filmmaker who is known for gritty movies such as Desperado and Sin City, took a break from gratuitous violence in 2001 to make his first family-friendly movie – Spy Kids. The movie was a huge success, spawning three sequels over the next ten years all directed and written by Rodriguez himself. Each movie in the franchise has been a box-office success while also proving endlessly popular with kids. He has also directed Spy Kids-related movies such as cult classic The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl and the 2020 movie We Can Be Heroes.
Spy Kids: Armageddon also includes a co-writing credit for Rodriguez’s son, Racer Max who has worked with his father on multiple projects in the role of writer and producer. In an interview with People, Rodriguez said;
“Racer and my other kids were the original audience for the early films, so they had very strong opinions on what needed to be included in this film to make it the ultimate Spy Kids movie. Racer came up with a lot, the new family, the whole Nemesis being a game designer, that the game would lock people out of their technology. He and my kids even fully created a working game within the movie called Hyskor on their own.”
Fans of the franchise will be excited to hear that creating the movie was a collaboration between father and son. The pair worked together on the movies We Can Be Heroes, Red 11, and The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl. The pair are also producing alongside David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, and Elizabeth Avellan. The movie is produced by Skydance, Spyglass Media Group, and Double R Productions.
Who's in the cast?
Spy Kids: Armageddon features an all-new cast led by the adorable children Everly Carganilla and Connor Esterson who play Patty and Tony Tango-Torrez. They are joined by Gina Rodriguez who stars as their mother Nora and Zachary Levi who plays their father Terrence. Rodriguez is best known for her starring role in the hit television series Jane the Virgin while Zachary Levi will be known to most superhero fans for his titular role in Shazam!
The cast also includes Billy Magnussen playing a character called Rey “The King” Kingston who looks set to be the main villain of the movie. D. J. Cotrona, Fabiola Andujar, Joe Schilling, and Solar Dena Bennett are also starring in the movie in undisclosed roles.
What’s the plot of Spy Kids: Armageddon?
Here’s the official plot synopsis of the movie from Netflix:
“When the children of the world’s greatest secret agents unwittingly help a powerful Game Developer unleash a computer virus that gives him control of all technology, they must become spies themselves to save their parents and the world.”
From what we know about the Spy Kids franchise we can expect the kids to go through a set of daunting challenges in order to rescue their parents. Patty and Tony are not going to be alone in their quest. It looks likely that they will be interacting with holographic messages from their parents who planned for the possibility of their own capture. The kids will be suiting up with special spy gear with some new gadgets and a few throwbacks for fans of the franchise. While we still don’t know too much about the main villain, or how parents Nora and Terrence get captured, we do know that you should never underestimate a spy kid. We can expect the Organization of Super Spies (OSS) to make an appearance in this movie.
Is there a trailer for Spy Kids: Armageddon?
A short teaser for the movie has been released offering an exciting glimpse of the characters. In the short clip, we can already see a selection of incredible gadgets. They include anti-gravity boots that allow the kids to walk upside down, one on-road speeding buggy that looks like it might have a turbo boost installed, and a spaceship. Missing from the trailer is any hint of the main villain but we do get to see the parents played by Zachary Levi and Gina Rodriguez in fighting action. Between explosions and car chases, the teaser introduces us to the latest spy kids and their mission: “Stop the bad guys and save the world!”
When is Spy Kids: Armageddon coming out?
Spy Kids: Armageddon is being released on September 22, 2023. It will premiere on the streaming service Netflix. Rodriguez has previously stated in an interview with Slashfilm that streaming is the perfect way for kids to watch his movies. Speaking about previous movies, We Can Be Heroes, Rodriguez stated “I was excited that kids wouldn't need their parents to drive them to a theater to see it. When my daughter wants to watch something, she can watch it as many times as she wants on Netflix. I don't have to drive her to the theater.”
Where can I watch all the Spy Kids movies online?
- Spy Kids - Paramount Plus, Apple TV+
- Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams - Paramount Plus, Apple TV+
- Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over - Paramount Plus, Apple TV+
- Spy Kids: All the Time in the World - Apple TV+
Keep track of all the latest news and information about the Spy Kids franchise and other family-friendly movies here on JustWatch.