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Top 5
Stories
Director Robert Rodriguez smashed box-office expectations with his cult classic family film Spy Kids.
Featuring Rodriguez’s frequent collaborators Antonio Banderas, Danny Trejo and Cheech Marin, the 2001 action comedy is also known as the project that launched the careers of titular kids Alexa PenaVega and Daryl Sabara.
The movie follows Carmen Cortez (PenaVega) and her brother, Juni (Sabara), as they try to rescue their superstar parents (Banderas and Carla Gugino) from a dastardly plot enacted by Fegan Floop (Alan Cumming), the host of a children’s TV show.
After raking in nearly $150 million at the box office, Spy Kids spawned three sequels — Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams, Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over and Spy Kids: All the Time in the World — as well as a 2018 animated TV show called Spy Kids: Mission Critical.
In 2022, Netflix announced an upcoming reboot film starring Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi and Billy Magnussen with Connor Esterson and Everly Carganilla as the young adventurers. “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,” reads the logline for the new movie.
The still-untitled project doesn’t yet have a release date, but the El Mariachi director revealed that production wrapped in August 2022.
Keep scrolling to see what the cast of the original Spy Kids has been up to since the film’s 2001 premiere.
Credit: Rico Torres/Dimension/Kobal/Shutterstock
Director Robert Rodriguez smashed box-office expectations with his cult classic family film Spy Kids. Featuring Rodriguez’s frequent collaborators Antonio Banderas, Danny Trejo and Cheech Marin, the 2001 action comedy is also known as the project that launched the careers of titular kids Alexa PenaVega and Daryl Sabara. The movie follows Carmen Cortez (PenaVega) and her brother, Juni (Sabara), as they try to rescue their superstar parents (Banderas and Carla Gugino) from a dastardly plot enacted by Fegan Floop (Alan Cumming), the host of a children’s TV show. After raking in nearly $150 million at the box office, Spy Kids spawned three sequels — Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams, Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over and Spy Kids: All the Time in the World — as well as a 2018 animated TV show called Spy Kids: Mission Critical. In 2022, Netflix announced an upcoming reboot film starring Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi and Billy Magnussen with Connor Esterson and Everly Carganilla as the young adventurers. “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,” reads the logline for the new movie. The still-untitled project doesn’t yet have a release date, but the El Mariachi director revealed that production wrapped in August 2022. Keep scrolling to see what the cast of the original Spy Kids has been up to since the film’s 2001 premiere.
Credit: Shutterstock (2)
PenaVega (née Vega) played one of the film’s protagonists, iconic older sister Carmen Cortez. She later appeared in films including Sleepover and Repo! The Genetic Opera, reteaming with her Spy Kids director for Machete Kills in 2013. Her TV credits include Ruby & the Rockits and Nashville, and in 2015, she competed on Dancing With the Stars. From 2019 to 2022, she voiced Carlota in The Casagrandes. PenaVega also faithfully continued her work with the Spy Kids franchise, starring in all three of the sequels.
In 2014, the Mother’s Day star married Carlos Pena Jr., who took the last name PenaVega after their wedding. The duo have jointly appeared in several Hallmark movies, including Picture Perfect Mysteries: Newlywed and Dead, Love in the Limelight and Love at Sea. The couple share three children: sons Ocean and Kingston and daughter Rio.
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Sabara played the movie’s other protagonist, quintessential little brother Juni Cortez. He later landed several voice acting roles in shows including Ultimate Spider-Man, Ben 10 and Marvel’s Avengers Assemble. He also appeared in episodes of Wizards of Waverly Place, Weeds and Criminal Minds. In 2010, he reunited with some of the Spy Kids team — including Robert, Trejo and Marin — for the first Machete movie.
The John Carter actor married Meghan Trainor in 2018, and the pair welcomed son Riley in 2021.
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The U.K. native played villain Fegan Floop, reprising the role in Spy Kids 2 and Spy Kids 3-D. The Tony Award winner went on to star in films including Reefer Madness, Burlesque and The Tempest. From 2016 to 2021, he played Eli Gold on The Good Wife. His other TV credits include Web Therapy, Broad City and Schmigadoon! He’s also an accomplished author, having published two memoirs, a novel and two children’s books.
Cumming and illustrator Grant Shaffer tied the knot in 2012 after having a civil union ceremony five years earlier.
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The Interview With the Vampire actor starred as head of the family Gregorio Cortez. While this heartthrob is well known for starring in The Mask of Zorro, younger fans may recognize his voice work as Puss in Boots from the Shrek franchise. Banderas is a frequent collaborator of Robert’s, appearing in his films including Desperado, Four Rooms, Once Upon a Time in Mexico and Machete Kills. In 2020, he earned his first Oscar nomination for his performance in Pedro Almodóvar‘s Pain and Glory.
Banderas shares daughter Stella with ex-wife Melanie Griffith, whom he divorced in 2015. He is also the stepfather of Dakota Johnson, whom Griffith shares with ex-husband Don Johnson.
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Gugino played the mother of Carmen and Juni and Gregorio’s wife, Ingrid. The Spin City alum has since appeared in films including Night at the Museum, Watchmen, American Gangster and San Andreas, teaming up with the Spy Kids filmmaker again in 2005 for Sin City. On TV, she’s appeared in several Netflix horror projects, including The Haunting of Hill House, Gerald’s Game and The Haunting of Bly Manor.
The Sucker Punch actress has been in a relationship with Sebastián Gutiérrez since 1996.
Credit: YouTube; Shutterstock
The comedian appeared as Felix Gumm, an OSS agent who pretends to be Carmen and Juni’s uncle. After reprising the role in the first two Spy Kids sequels, Marin racked up film credits in Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Christmas With the Kranks, Machete, Coco and Cars 3. He’s also appeared in TV shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Lost, Jane the Virgin and Home Economics.
Marin shares one child with ex-wife Darlene Morley, whom he divorced in 1984. He and ex-wife Patti Held are also the parents of two children. In 2009, he married pianist Natasha Rubin.
Credit: Shutterstock (2)
The action star played Carmen and Juni’s real uncle Isador “Machete” Cortez. The character later became the subject of two of Robert’s films: 2010’s Machete and the 2013 sequel Machete Kills. His many film credits include The Devil’s Rejects, Halloween, Bullets of Justice and Dora and the Lost City of Gold. The Breaking Bad alum has also appeared in episodes of Angie Tribeca, The Flash, Blue Bloods and What We Do in the Shadows.
The Desperado star shares son Danny with ex Diana Walton. He and ex Maeve Crommie are also the parents of son Gilbert and daughter Danielle.
Credit: YouTube; Shutterstock
The A-lister made a cameo appearance as Devlin, the leader of the OSS who later becomes president of the U.S. One year after Spy Kids, the ER alum made his directorial debut with Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, in which he played game show host Chuck Barris. After reprising the role of Devlin in Spy Kids 3-D, he appeared in films including Ocean’s Twelve, Michael Clayton, The American, Up in the Air, Gravity and many more. In 2006, he won an Oscar for his performance in Syriana. Clooney is set to reunite with friend and frequent costar Julia Roberts in 2022’s Ticket to Paradise.
The Golden Globe winner married lawyer Amal Clooney (née Alamuddin) in 2014. The duo welcomed twins Ella and Alexander in 2017.
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