Summary

  • The new Spy Kids movie, Spy Kids: Armageddon, is largely a reboot rather than a direct sequel to the original movies.
  • The teaser trailer for Armageddon maintains the humor and charm of the previous movies, featuring family gadgets and locations with an all-new cast.
  • There are hints that Armageddon may be connected to the original movies, with the possibility of original characters making a return, making it more of a "requel" than a full reboot.

There hasn't been a new Spy Kids movies have largely been successful for creator and director Robert Rodriguez following the first entry's premiere in 2001. After Spy Kids' $147 million box office gross (via Box Office Mojo), the following two sequels performed just as well without a substantial budget increase, which is an impressive feat for Rodriguez. However, 2011's Spy Kids: All the Time in the World made less than half of its predecessor at the worldwide box office and seemingly put the franchise on hiatus indefinitely.

However, the nostalgia for the hit 2000s franchise is growing, with Rodriguez's 2020 Netflix movie We Can Be Heroes, a sequel to his Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl movie from 2005, setting the stage for Spy Kids' return. As a result, the fifth Spy Kids movie is finally arriving on Netflix on September 22, 2023. Spy Kids: Armageddon sees Robert Rodriguez return to the director's chair alongside a cast that includes Billy Magnussen, Gina Rodriguez, and Zachary Levi. Still, with original actors like Daryl Sabara and Alexa Vega missing from the cast, there are plenty of questions that need answering, including whether Armageddon is a reboot or direct sequel to the previous Spy Kids movies.

Netflix's New Spy Kids Movie Is A Reboot (Mostly)

Everly Carganilla and Connor Esterson in Spy Kids Armageddon

The Spy Kids franchise's latest entry is largely a reboot rather than a direct sequel to the originals. However, the Spy Kids: Armageddon teaser trailer thankfully proves that the reboot maintains the humor and charm of the previous movies. The trailer features family gadgets and locations, but has an all-new cast that seemingly retells the familiar story of two siblings learning that their parents are spies, leading them on a journey to their parents' rescue. In Netflix's movie, two kids play with advanced gadgets and become spies themselves when their mother tells them, "Something has gone terribly wrong." Although Spy Kids: Armageddon is a reboot, it's seemingly still set in the same world as the original 2001 movie.

Spy Kids: Armageddon May Be Connected To The Original Movies

Everly Carganilla and Connor Esterson in Spy Kids Armageddon

Ultimately, where Spy Kids: Armageddon stands in the grand scheme of the series is still relatively unknown. While the Netflix film looks like a total reboot, there are still hints that it's set in the world of the original movies. Rodriguez teased that there might be some bigger ties to the original trilogy in an interview with People. When asked if there is any connection in the new movie, Rodriguez simply commented, "That's top secret." Even if it's just a cameo or a limited number of scenes, Rodriguez's comment gives hope that Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara could potentially return as Carmen and Juni, the original "Spy Kids."

Part of the reason why Spy Kids: All the Time in the World bombed at the box office was because it focused on a brand-new family with absolutely no connection to the original spies. It's highly unlikely that Rodriguez would repeat this mistake, so it would make sense for original characters to return in Spy Kids: Armageddon. Any recurring or main actor could return and significantly increase the excitement of the movie, such as fan-favorites Danny Trejo and Antonio Banderas. If this happens to be the case, then Spy Kids: Armageddon will be more of a "requel" than a full reboot.

Source: People