Rodriguez stays in Austin
Spy step-mom? Jessica Alba to star in fourth Spy Kids movie
Jessica Alba
Antonio Banderas in "Spy Kids"
Robert Rodriguez
Austin-based filmmaker Robert Rodriguez doesn’t let dust settle under his cowboy boots. Just last month his movie Predatorswas released; next week, Machete will open in theaters nationwide; this week it was announced that Jessica Alba will star in his fourth Spy Kids adventure.
The third Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003), was shot entirely in Austin: On Congress, at the University of Texas, and at Troublemaker Studios, for a reported $39 million. According to IMDb.com the family-friendly feature has grossed $189 million worldwide.
Wondering how Jessica Alba could possibly play the mother of two children old enough to be pre-teen spies, I learned that Rodriguez, who also wrote the screenplay, created the characters as her step-children. She will be a retired spy, with a baby, who is re-activated and then it’s off to save the world with the step-kids. This is one multi-tasking, pistol packin’ momma.
Some lucky guy, capable of portraying a nerdy investigative reporter, will get to play the husband of the strikingly beautiful Alba.
The first Spy Kids film (2001) was so successful it bred Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams (2002). By the time Spy Kids 3 wrapped, the “kids” were growing up and that sort of looked like the end of it. But, you can’t keep a popular franchise down, so now there will a new “mom” and new “kids” to carry on.
Actor Antonio Banderas, who was the super spy parent of the original kids, will return in a supporting role (Grand Dad Spy?). Alexa Vega, the little actress who was the original Spy Girl, is now 22 and engaged. She’ll have a role in the film as well, along with former Spy Boy Daryl Sabara, 18 (Spy Kid Grads?)
This will be Jessica Alba’s third film with Rodriguez. She starred in his Sin City and Machete with Danny Trejo. Last week Machete premiered in Los Angeles with some Texas flair – Rodriguez in his trademark black cowboy hat and Trejo ditching the usual limo for a chopper emblazoned with flames.
Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World is set to be released next August and, here’s hoping, will be shot mostly in Texas some time in September.
