From Cortez To Armageddon: Where Are The Original Spy Kids Cast Now? (2025 Update)

The Spy Kids franchise, which first burst onto the screen in 2001, introduced a generation to the high-tech, family-first world of the Cortez family, solidifying its place as a cult classic. Now, over two decades later, with a brand-new reboot, Spy Kids: Armageddon, having launched a new family of agents, fans are more curious than ever about the original cast members who brought Carmen and Juni Cortez to life.

As of late 2024 and early 2025, the original cast has scattered across Hollywood, television, and even the world of music and family life. From major superhero roles to Hallmark-style Christmas movies and a surprising dive into Spanish musical theatre, here is the ultimate, up-to-the-minute look at what the original Spy Kids cast is doing now, plus a look at the new agents who took their place.

The Original Cortez Family: Full Biographies and Current Status (2025)

The core of the first three blockbuster films—Spy Kids (2001), Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002), and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003)—was the incredible chemistry of the Cortez family. Here is a detailed look at the actors who played the world's favorite family of spies.

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Alexa PenaVega (Carmen Cortez)

• Birth Name: Alexa Ellesse Vega
• Date of Birth: August 27, 1988
• Place of Birth: Miami, Florida, U.S.
• Known For: Carmen Cortez in the Spy Kids series, Julie Corky in Sleepover (2004), and her extensive work with the Great American Family network.
• Spouse: Carlos PenaVega (m. 2014)
• Children: Three children (Ocean King, Kingston James, and Rio Rey).
• Current Status (2025): Alexa PenaVega is one of the most prolific stars on the Great American Family (GAF) channel, often starring alongside her husband, Carlos PenaVega, whom she met while starring in the musical Grease. They co-starred in the 2024 GAF film Love at the Kettle and are set to star in another holiday-themed project in the 2025 season. Her 2025 Lifetime movie, Before Your Father Finds Us, also shows her continued presence in the TV movie circuit.

Daryl Sabara (Juni Cortez)

• Birth Name: Daryl Christopher Sabara
• Date of Birth: June 14, 1992
• Place of Birth: Torrance, California, U.S.
• Known For: Juni Cortez in the Spy Kids series, extensive voice work in animated projects like Generator Rex, and his role as the husband of pop star Meghan Trainor.
• Spouse: Meghan Trainor (m. 2018)
• Children: Two sons (Riley and Barry Bruce).
• Current Status (2025): Daryl Sabara has largely stepped back from major on-screen roles, focusing on voice acting and his family life. He and his wife, pop sensation Meghan Trainor, are doting parents to two young boys, Riley and Barry Bruce, who was born in July 2023. The couple was prominently featured attending the 2025 Baby2Baby Gala, solidifying their status as a Hollywood power couple. Sabara has spoken openly about finding fulfillment in fatherhood after his experience as a child star.

Antonio Banderas (Gregorio Cortez)

• Birth Name: José Antonio Domínguez Bandera
• Date of Birth: August 10, 1960
• Place of Birth: Málaga, Spain
• Known For: Zorro in The Mask of Zorro, the voice of Puss in Boots, and his collaborations with director Pedro Almodóvar, earning him an Academy Award nomination for Pain and Glory.
• Current Status (2025): Banderas remains a global cinema icon. His recent projects include the 2024 crime-action thriller Cult Killer and the highly anticipated film Babygirl, where he stars alongside Nicole Kidman. Beyond Hollywood, Banderas has dedicated significant time to his passion for theatre, directing and producing musicals, such as the Spanish premiere of Gypsy in 2024 at his Teatro del Soho CaixaBank in Málaga.

Carla Gugino (Ingrid Cortez)

• Birth Name: Carla Gugino
• Date of Birth: August 29, 1971
• Place of Birth: Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
• Known For: Ingrid Cortez in Spy Kids, Sally Jupiter in Watchmen, and her work in Mike Flanagan's horror series like The Haunting of Hill House and The Fall of the House of Usher.
• Current Status (2025): Carla Gugino continues her diverse and critically acclaimed career. In 2024, she starred in the horror-comedy film Lisa Frankenstein. Her upcoming slate is robust, including the 2025 film The Friend and the highly anticipated sequel San Andreas 2 (TBA), where she is set to reprise her role. Her consistent work across genres, from blockbuster disaster films to prestige streaming horror, keeps her a major force in the industry.

The Next Generation: Spy Kids: Armageddon and the New Cast

In a major update for the franchise, director Robert Rodriguez launched a full reboot in 2023 with the Netflix film Spy Kids: Armageddon. This film introduced a new family of spies, the Tango-Torrez family, and importantly, none of the original Cortez family cast members returned. Rodriguez explained that he wanted to begin a completely new chapter with a fresh set of characters and a new generation of spy technology.

The decision to exclude the original cast was a creative choice to establish a new continuity, but the new film pays homage to the spirit of the original Spy Kids movies. This reboot centers on two new children, Tony and Patty Tango-Torrez, who must save their super-spy parents and the world from a powerful Game Developer.

The New Spy Parents: Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi

The new generation is led by two established stars known for their work in major television and superhero franchises:

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Gina Rodriguez (Nora Torrez)

Gina Rodriguez, who plays new spy matriarch Nora Torrez, is best known for her Golden Globe-winning role as Jane Villanueva in the critically acclaimed series Jane the Virgin. As of 2024, she returned to television as the lead in the second season of the ABC comedy series Not Dead Yet. Her career continues to expand with an untitled comedy film for Universal in the works, in addition to her role as a voice actor in the animated world.

Zachary Levi (Terrence Tango)

Zachary Levi, who plays Nora's husband, Terrence Tango, is a major figure in the superhero world, having starred as the titular hero in DC's Shazam! (2019) and Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023). In 2024, he starred in the family film adaptation Harold and the Purple Crayon. Levi is also a passionate advocate for mental health and a known figure at major fan conventions, including a spotlight Q&A scheduled for the 2025 Tampa Bay Comic Convention.

The New Spy Kids: Connor Esterson and Everly Carganilla

The new dynamic duo is played by Connor Esterson (as Antonio "Tony" Tango-Torrez) and Everly Carganilla (as Patricia "Patty" Tango-Torrez). Esterson and Carganilla have the daunting task of carrying the legacy established by Alexa PenaVega and Daryl Sabara, bringing a modern, video-game-centric twist to the classic spy tropes. Their performances in Armageddon mark a significant step in their young careers, positioning them as the next generation of child stars in the action-comedy genre.

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The Enduring Legacy of the Original Spy Kids

The original four Spy Kids films—which include the oft-forgotten fourth installment, Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (2011), where Alexa and Daryl briefly reprised their roles—cemented director Robert Rodriguez's vision of a fun, inclusive, and technologically advanced family adventure. The films launched the careers of the main cast and introduced a host of memorable supporting characters, including Danny Trejo as the beloved Machete Cortez, the gadget-making uncle.

The longevity of the franchise speaks to its core themes: family unity and the idea that kids are smarter and more capable than adults often give them credit for. The original cast members, Alexa PenaVega and Daryl Sabara, have maintained a close friendship over the years, often reminiscing about their time on set, highlighting the genuine family atmosphere created by Rodriguez.

While the original cast moves on to diverse and successful careers—from Antonio Banderas's theatre work to Carla Gugino's horror anthology dominance—their legacy as the original Cortez family remains intact. The Spy Kids universe continues to expand, proving that the world will always need a new generation of agents to save the day, whether they are named Cortez or Tango-Torrez.