Includes SPOILERS for Back in Action!
Cameron Diaz has returned to stardom withBack in Actionon Netflix, and the film leaves a vital character to be cast for a sequel. 2025’sBack in Actionbrought Cameron Diaz out of retirementwith her first movie in eleven years. She co-stars alongside Jamie Foxx as the lead, Emily, and the pair bring charisma and excitement to the fun new action movie. While their first adventure came to a close,Back in Action’sendinglaid the foundation for a sequel, withthe proposition of Emily’s father being a new character.
With theprospect ofBack in Action 2happening, an actor for Emily’s father must be cast. In the spirit of upping the game for a sequel, filmmaker Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses,Baywatch) would likely have tobring in an actor of some esteem to play this new co-protagonist, who would be joining Emily and Matt in their next mission to recover Chuck’s body. The pair aren’t off the hook yet, and things will only grow more complicated with her father being brought on board. To pull off this zany idea, a movie star actor is required.
5John Lithgow
Reuniting Fiona & Lord Farquaad
Part of the thrill ofBack in Actionwas that Cameron Diaz, who was once one of the world’s most famous movie stars, would be returning to the industry after over a decade’s absence. With this fact and the movie’s title in mind,Back in Actionis fairly meta, and an excellent way to expand on the meta aspect would be to cast movie stars with some sort of connection to Diaz. Notably, bothshe and John Lithgow voiced characters inShrek.
Where Was Back In Action Filmed? All Shooting Locations Explained
Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz went around the world in Back in Action, and the movie actually had a surprisingly varied list of filming locations.
Shrekis undoubtedly one ofCameron Diaz’s best movies, as she plays Princess Fiona in the animated family movie classic. John Lithgow also stars as the villainous Lord Farquaad. This would be a fun connection, as they’ve never actually appeared on-screen together aside from voice acting. WithJohn Lithgow being 79 years old and one of the world’s most prestigious veteran actors, he could be excellent forBack in Action.
4Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger Is Still A Great Action Star
Back in Actionis packed with referencesto classic spy movies and action thrillers, paying homage to the films that influenced it. One of those movies isTrue Lies, the 1994 James Cameron-directed movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. InBack in Action,Jamie Foxx’s character makes a flamethrower out of a petrol pump, much like Schwarzenegger didin the original movie.
Known for film series likeThe TerminatorandPredator, Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the defining action movie stars of the 1980s and 1990s. At 77 years old, he is still acting in shows likeFUBAR, which recently saw him partnering with Netflix, meaning he’d be a perfect candidate to bring in as Diaz’s father. While known for his action roles and fitness, Schwarzenegger is a hilarious comedic talent and could be a fun addition.
3Sylvester Stallone
Making Good On The Creed References
Sylvester Stallone is best known to audiences as Rocky Balboa and Rambo, making him another iconic 1980s action movie star. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Stallone is still acting and as tough as ever, with his role as the lead on Paramount+‘sTulsa Kingallowing him to dip into the mafia genre. Theactor is 78 now, making him the perfect ageto play Cameron Diaz’s father.
Stallone’s casting would be another choice thatpays off on references inBack in Action, with the film mentioning theCreedmovies on multiple occasions.Creedis the successor franchise toRocky, and Stallone starred in the first two as his iconic character.
2Kurt Russell
Kurt Russell Co-Starred With Diaz In Vanilla Sky
Kurt Russell is another of the great action heroes of the 1980s, and he has arguably had the best career of the three in recent memory. Aside from the films of Quentin Tarantino and his role inGuardians of the Galaxy 2,Russell just recently starred in Apple TV+’s Godzilla show,Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,and is rumored to appear in an upcoming Taylor Sheridan project.
Back In Action: Matt & Emily’s CIA Jobs Explained
Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz play spies in Back in Action, but it’s not entirely clear exactly what they did for the CIA, or what they do as parents.
Kurt Russell appeared alongside Cameron Diaz in the 2001 filmVanilla Sky, and though that movie’s tone is vastly different fromBack in Action, it’s still a thriller movie reference that included the pair. Russell’s classic action movies includeEscape from New York,Big Trouble in Little China, and many more.
1Pierce Brosnan
James Bond Could Be Emily’s Father
Pierce Brosnan is on the younger side of the actors who would be fit for a role inBack in Action, but the 71-year-old star could make it work. Brosnan recently appeared as a superhero in Dwayne Johnson’sBlack Adamfor DC Comics, so he’s clearly still capable of putting on a thrilling show. However, the meat of this casting choice would be due to Brosnan playing James Bond in the 1990s.
It would add a layer to the spy/secret agent homage and also add some humor with Emily having a randomly British father.
There are some 007 references inBack in Actionthat would make an iconic Bond actor terrifically fun to bring on board. It would add a layer to the spy/secret agent homage and also add some humor with Emily having a randomly British father.
Back in Action
Back in Action follows former CIA operatives Emily and Matt, who are thrust back into espionage years after retiring to raise a family. Released on July 11, 2025, the film unravels their return to the clandestine world when their identities are exposed.
