Robert Rodriguez is at his best when writing and directing R-rated action fare, but every couple of years decides that he needs to make a children's movie, so instead of making Sin City 2, Rodriguez has instead chosen to make Spy Kids 4:All The Time In The World. He's already cast most of the heroes, newcomers including Jessica Alba, Joel McHale, Rowan Blanchard and Mason Cook, and now he has his villain.
A press release has announced that Jeremy Piven has been cast as the lead antagonist in Rodriguez's new film. According to the release, the actor will play a "maniacal Timekeeper" who "threatens to take over the planet." Alba, a retired agent for the OSS, is called into action, as are her two step children, played by Blanchard and Cook.
The Spy Kids films actually started out quite well, the first film earning a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes, but the two movies since have received less and less positive marks, the most recent, Spy Kids 3-D - Game Over, holding at 45% (the law of diminishing returns has also negatively affected the box office results). With a release date set for August of next year, we'll have to wait and see if they can turn it around. Check out the full press release below.
Jeremy Piven rounds out the cast in Director Robert Rodriguez’s “Spy Kids 4: All The Time In The World.”
New York, NY (October 26, 2010) - Principal photography is underway in Austin, Texas on Dimension Film’s family action adventure, “Spy Kids 4: All The Time In The World,” being directed by Robert Rodriguez (“Sin City,” The “Spy Kids” Trilogy) from his own screenplay. Rodriguez is also producing this fourth addition to the wildly popular series with Elizabeth Avellan under their Troublemaker Studios banner. Bob and Harvey Weinstein are executive producing. The film is being shot entirely in Austin, Texas and will be released in 3-D on August 19, 2011.
The ensemble cast includes Jessica Alba (“Machete”), Jeremy Piven (“Entourage”), Joel McHale (TV’s “Community” and “The Soup”) and young stars Rowan Blanchard (TV’s “Dancelot Robot“) and Mason Cook (“Treasure Buddies“). Also reprising their roles from the previous films are Antonio Banderas (“The Mask of Zorro”), Danny Trejo (“Machete”), Alexa Vega (“From Prada To Nada”) and Daryl Sabara (“Machete”).
On the surface, Marissa Cortez Wilson (Jessica Alba) has it all...married to a famous spy hunting television reporter, a new baby and intelligent twin step kids. But in reality, trying to mother Rebecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook), who clearly don’t want her around, is her toughest challenge yet. Also, her husband, Wilbur (Joel McHale), wouldn’t know a spy if he lived with one which is exactly the case - Marissa’s a retired secret agent.
Marissa’s world is turned upside down when the maniacal Timekeeper (Jeremy Piven) threatens to take over the planet and she’s called back into action by the head of OSS, home of the greatest spies and where the now-defunct Spy Kids division was created. With Armageddon quickly approaching, Rebecca and Cecil are thrust into action when they learn their boring stepmom was once a top agent and now the world’s most competitive ten year olds are forced to put their bickering aside and rely on their wits. With a little help from a couple of very familiar Spy Kids, Carmen (Alexa Vega) and Juni Cortez (Daryl Sabara), and some mind-blowing gadgets, they just may be able to save the world and possibly bring their family together while they’re at it.
Robert Rodriguez is also serving as his own director of photography, editor and visual effects supervisor on the film. Rodriguez and Avellan have reunited a number of their collaborators from their past films, including makeup department head Ermahn Ospina, production designer Steve Joyner, costume designer Nina Proctor, and first assistant director Brian Bettwy.
The record-breaking “Spy Kids” Trilogy (“Spy Kids,” “Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams,” and “Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over”) have collectively grossed over $450 million worldwide.
