Back in Action contains a villainous plot twist that, funnily enough, continues one possible storyline from a 2018 film starring Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams. Netflix’s 2025 spy comedy follows married ex-spies — Matt and Emily, played by Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz — forced to come out of retirement once their new idenтιтies are compromised. Their enemies learn they are in possession of the “Key,” a device that controls any electronic sources. So, Matt and Emily go on the run with their two children, who are unaware of their past lives, and end up in England, where they learn the truth.
Per Variety, Back in Action garnered 46.8 million views within its first three days on streaming, making it the biggest opening weekend for a Netflix English-language movie since the 2022 sci-fi action film The Adam Project.
Towards the end of Back in Action, Matt and Emily discover someone they thought was their ally is actually their adversary. Meanwhile, the person they believed was their enemy was their friend. It sounds more convoluted than it is. However, it’s Back in Action‘s big twist, and the real antagonist of the film is played by an actor who was sort of a villain in the aforementioned Batman and McAdams movie from seven years ago.
Back In Action Finally Has Kyle Chandler Play A Villain After Game Night Teased That Twist
Chandler Stars As Brooks In Game Night
Kyle Chandler stars as Chuck, Matt and Emily’s friend turned foe, in the Netflix movie Back in Action, and the actor plays a could’ve-been villain in the 2018 action comedy Game Night, featuring Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams. Chandler portrayed Brooks, Bateman’s character’s jerk brother, in the film. Throughout Game Night, the audience is constantly left wondering who the real antagonist is, and it is seemingly almost Brooks. However, the movie never pulls off the twist of making Chandler’s character a villain, but Back in Action makes up for the tease.
|
Game Night Cast |
Role |
|---|---|
|
Jason Bateman |
Max Davis |
|
Rachel McAdams |
Annie Davis |
|
Billy Magnussen |
Ryan Huddle |
|
Sharon Horgan |
Sarah Darcy |
|
Lamorne Morris |
Kevin Sterling |
|
Kylie Bunbury |
Michelle Sterling |
|
Kyle Chandler |
Brooks Davis |
|
Jesse Plemons |
Gary Kingsbury |
|
Danny Huston |
Donald Anderton |
|
Michael C. Hall |
The Bulgarian |
|
Chelsea Peretti |
Glenda |
Chandler proves he has the ability to play a villain in Game Night, and he finally gets the chance to show off his chops in Back in Action. His character, Chuck, is the true baddie, hunting down Matt and Emily for the “Key.” The actor ultimately does a great job at ᴀssuming the role of the villain in Back in Action, and he might get the chance to do so again.
Back In Action’s Ending Already Sets Up Chandler To Play A Villain Again
Chuck’s Body Never Gets Recovered
Although unconfirmed, Back in Action‘s ending sets up a sequel. After Chuck’s apparent death in London, Matt and Emily return to their normal lives and everything is sunshine and roses until they get a surprise visit from Baron. The MI6 agent informs the couple that Chuck’s body was never found, implying he survived. So, if Netflix greenlights Back in Action 2, Kyle Chandler would likely reprise his role as Chuck, giving the actor the opportunity to play the antagonist once more.
Source: Variety
