With 2023’s The Family Plan, director Simon Cellan Jones delivered a warm, unexpectedly heartfelt action-comedy about a perfectly ordinary family that’s thrown into extraordinary circumstances when patriarch Dan Morgan’s (Mark Wahlberg) past life as an elite assassin resurfaces. The film became a word-of-mouth hit for Apple Studios, praised for its blend of family dynamics, road-trip chaos and throwback action energy.
Now, The Family Plan 2 expands the story into a bigger, globe-trotting adventure. This time the Morgans find themselves navigating London, Paris, new adversaries, new allies, and the even trickier terrain of adult children pulling away from home. Jones returns to the director’s chair with Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan once again leading the cast, joined by new faces including Kit Harington and rising talent Reda Elazouar (playing daughter Nina’s parkour-skilled boyfriend).
We sat down with Jones to discuss sequels, family dynamics, location filmmaking, and the delicate dance of balancing spectacle with heart.
When you wrapped the first Family Plan, did you already know you wanted to return to this world?
Simon Cellan Jones: When we finished the first one, I thought, “Wow, that was fun.” I was really proud of the work everyone did, and it did more than okay for Apple. Mark was keen, too. It was one of those situations where everyone said, “All right, write a script. If it’s good, we’ll make it.” David, who wrote the first one, did a great job again. We were hopeful, and suddenly it all came together very fast.
At what point did you read the script, and what was the ingredient that made it work for you?
We all loved the family and their everyday quality. They’re not boring, just normal: taco nights, picking kids up, dealing with screens. Even with Dan’s heightened past, they’re relatable. After doing a road movie last time, we wanted to keep the family traveling. London and Paris excited me; after all, Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. And then we got Kit Harington, who’s pretty damn cool. That gave us confidence.
Sequels are tricky. How did you balance the familiarity fans want with the need for something new?
You definitely want to keep certain elements from the first one, but if you’re just re-treading or phoning it in, audiences will call you out. We aimed to take it in a different direction while holding onto what made the first film resonate.
The Family Plan 2 sends the Morgans on a global adventure. What themes were important this time?
We started with the core five-person family, but you always think about extended family. Even the happiest people have complicated relationships. In the first film, it was heightened, with the father (Ciarán Hinds) literally trying to kill his own son. Here, it’s about family during the holidays. Parents want everyone together; kids grow up and push away. Dan is desperately trying to keep Christmas as a unifying moment, even as his kids move on with their lives.
Where did you want to take the Morgans’ relationships after the first film, especially now that communication between them has improved?
By the end of the first movie, they’d learned a lot about one another. But families don’t have final answers. Everything’s great until someone gets annoyed or feels controlled and the cycle restarts. A family story is never “finished.”
You balance big-scale action with quiet, human moments. How do you preserve that emotional space?
I think family dynamics come out clearest under pressure. We also have Nina’s new boyfriend, played by Reda — he’s fantastic. Her parents aren’t sure anyone’s good enough for her, especially Dan, and that tension plays out even while they’re running for their lives. Reda’s character becomes part of the family orbit, not just a romantic addition.
Did he really do his own parkour stunts?
He did most of them! He wanted to do more, but insurance exists for a reason. If he sprains an ankle, the whole schedule collapses. And we really were on rooftops… properly dangerous places.
You’ve worked with Mark Wahlberg for years. What were your conversations like about Dan’s journey in this sequel?
Mark wanted to lean into Dan as a normal father. Yes, the backstory is wild, but Mark has a gift for playing relatable, accessible characters. He works very naturally, walks on set ready to go, loves minimal rehearsal. I set up multiple cameras and let him and Michelle play. Giving the actors space paid off.
Was there much improvisation on set?
Definitely. We had a solid script, but we’d always do a couple of takes where they could throw in whatever they wanted. Mark and Michelle both love working that way, and it’s infectious.
Michelle Monaghan grounded the first film emotionally. What new layers did you want to explore with her this time?
After the first film, I knew she could absolutely carry the movie on equal footing with Mark. I trusted her, and she still brought surprises. She’s so funny, so cool, and makes everything look effortless.
You also reunited with your cinematographer and composer. What was the visual/emotional blueprint for the sequel?
We love shooting on location. It gives the film energy and authenticity. We wanted audiences to see themselves and their own families, holiday arguments and all. And Mark is incredibly loyal; many of his team have worked with him for decades. That shorthand helps enormously.
Did any locations change how you shot scenes?
We always intended to shoot in Paris. At one point, budget concerns meant we thought we’d only get a week, but we managed three full weeks with the cast. One of my favourite moments was a car chase in Montmartre. It was originally small, but when we saw the area, we said, “Could we do it here?” Everyone said no, so naturally, we found a way. We filmed there at night for a week. Madness, in a great way.
Were particular action scenes especially challenging?
They’re all challenging, but the fight between Michelle and Shadow — another assassin — was a highlight. Michelle is incredibly fit and instinctive. What I thought would be very hard became one of the most fluid sequences.
The action in The Family Plan 2 remains family-friendly. How did you decide how far to push the danger?
We had lots of gunfights in the first film, which are fun, but we wanted to rely less on that. Instead, we leaned into physical action: parkour, a double-decker bus fight, bike chases, a mansion showdown.
How did adding Kit Harington and Reda Elazouar refresh the ensemble?
They were both fantastic from the start. Mark and Michelle were excited — and probably relieved — that they were so good. It raises everyone’s game. It keeps things fresh and reminds the team that we’re reinventing, not repeating.
Without spoilers, what did you want to explore in Dan’s history with Kit Harington’s character?
There’s tension, but it’s more complicated than simple rivalry. They each want something from the other, then discover they actually want something else. Like most relationships, it’s never as straightforward as “I hate you.”
The Family Plan asked how much of yourself you hide to protect loved ones. What question guided you this time?
This film is about keeping a family together as it grows up. Your kids go to university, get jobs, start their own lives. In the last film, the pressure was Dan keeping his secret. Here, it’s about not becoming controlling or oppressive, because that just pushes them away.
If you were with audiences when they hit play on The Family Plan 2, what would you tell them to look out for?
I’d ask them to decide which character they’re most like. It’s the old Friends question: “Who are you?”, except this time it’s which Morgan resonates with you. And consider how you handle situations with humour, or with wits, or with whatever fighting skills you have!
Is there a scene you’re especially proud of?
There’s a car chase I won’t spoil, but it might be the most fun I’ve ever had directing. And then there are a few simple family scenes that I love, where they’re just together dealing with consequences. Those quiet moments matter as much as the rooftop chases.
Hypothetically, if you made The Family Plan 3, where would you take the story?
I’d love to explore the kids becoming adults and how the parents cope. Location-wise? Well, the Caribbean sounds nice. Or somewhere wild like China, Istanbul, or Africa. Shooting on location is always the dream.
The Family Plan 2 debuts on Apple TV+ on November 21st.