Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Back in Action.A spinoff of one of Back in Action‘s best characters is more interesting to me than a sequel. Back in Action‘s cast of characters is led by two former spies, Matt (Jamie Foxx) and Emily (Cameron Diaz). They stepped away from the world of espionage fifteen years ago, got married, and had two children, and built a life in the suburbs. When their covers are blown, Matt and Emily must rely on their spy skills to protect their family and to prevent Back in Action‘s ICS Key from falling into the wrong hands.
Fortunately, Matt and Emily are not alone in their fight. Matt reveals that he hid the ICS Key at the home of Emily’s mother, Ginny (Glenn Close), and she ultimately helps her daughter and son-in-law save the day. Ginny’s boyfriend, Nigel (Jamie Demetriou), and Baron (Andrew Scott) prove to be helpful allies as well, despite Matt and Emily mistakenly believing that Baron was the one after the ICS Key. Back in Action‘s ending sets up a direct sequel when Baron comes to Matt and Emily for help, but I would rather see a spinoff following another character.
Back In Action Teases An Interesting Prequel For Glenn Close’s Ginny
She Was A Legendary MI6 Sniper
These developments make me want to see a prequel that explores Ginny’s time as a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly MI6 sniper and that shows her relationship with Emily’s dad. As long as the prequel doesn’t take place too early in Ginny’s career, there will be no need to recast, and Close, who is a phenomenal actor, can still play Ginny. Seeing Ginny as an MI6 agent at the height of her career is enough to sell me on a prequel. The prequel can also provide more insight into Emily’s past and what it was like growing up with Ginny as her mother.
A Back In Action Prequel Could Reveal The Origins Of Ginny’s Foxhunter Manor
The Impressive Location Is Intertwined With Ginny’s Past
Matt explains to Emily that he hid the ICS Key at Ginny’s home, Foxhunter Manor, because it is always well-protected. His reasoning makes sense when Foxhunter Manor is shown, as the wealthy and grand-looking estate has state-of-the-art security and is filled with spyware technology. A prequel focused on Ginny can reveal more about the origins and history of this Back in Action location and how it played into Ginny’s career with MI6.
Further exploration of Foxhunter Manor and how well-guarded it is will make it even more impactful that Chuck and his mercenaries are able to breach the security during Back in Action.
The mansion can be the central setting for the Ginny-focused prequel, not only because it is her home, but because it fits perfectly into the narrative of Ginny being a sophisticated and talented spy. It can serve as both her home and her base of operations, which is intertwined with Ginny’s impressive and mysterious persona. Further exploration of Foxhunter Manor and how well-guarded it is will make it even more impactful that Chuck and his mercenaries are able to breach the security during Back in Action.
Back In Action 2 Could Help To Better Set Up A Ginny Prequel Movie
The Sequel Will Introduce Emily’s Dad
Even though I am more interested in a Ginny prequel, it would likely benefit from a sequel being released first. Back in Action 2 can introduce Emily’s dad, make him just as interesting as Ginny, and provide tantalizing hints about his past. With both Ginny and Emily’s dad established as entertaining characters with mysterious pasts, there will be more setup and more general interest in a prequel about the two characters. The prequel can show Ginny and Emily’s dad becoming spies and falling in love.
According to Netflix’s Top 10, Back in Action was the streaming platform’s most-watched movie during its first week, with 46.8 million views.
The story can also show how the two legendary spies fell out of love, as he is clearly no longer in her life during Back in Action, and Nigel is now Ginny’s boyfriend. When discussing Back in Action‘s cliffhanger ending, director Seth Gordon suggests that Ginny “met him somewhere through work,” and the story of that meeting is one of several elements I would like to see incorporated into the prequel. A sequel and then a Ginny prequel is the best way for the Back in Action story to continue.