It’s been 25 years since Spy Kids first hit theaters, and the adventure still isn’t over! In this special interview, Alexa PenaVega (Carmen Cortez) and Daryl Sabara (Juni Cortez) look back at the legacy of the iconic family action film, share behind-the-scenes memories, and talk about what it’s like revisiting the Spy Kids universe decades later.

The duo also discuss working with visionary director Robert Rodriguez, how he is helping the Texas film industry, and how their friendship has evolved after all these years. From wild gadgets to unforgettable moments on set, Alexa and Daryl reflect on the impact Spy Kids has had on them—and on a whole generation that grew up with the Cortez family.

If you grew up with Spy Kids, this conversation is a nostalgic trip you won’t want to miss!

On Thursday, March 5th the Austin Film Society hosted the 26th annual 2026 Texas Film Awards at Troublemaker Studios in Austin, TX with guests attending including honorees Julian Schnabel, Sydney Chandler, Sonny Carl Davis and Robert Rodriguez, Elizabeth Avellán, Daryl Sabara, and Alexa PenaVega with the 25th Anniversary of Spy Kids into the Texas Hall of Fame.  Presenters included Kyle Chandler, Mike Blizzard, Richard Linklater, and Gabriel Luna.

The trend of video game adaptations is once again gaining momentum in Hollywood. From Minecraft and Five Nights at Freddy’s to the latest Resident Evil installment—and now a film adaptation of the acclaimed indie horror game The Mortuary Assistant—studios are continuing to explore the storytelling potential of the gaming world.

I recently sat down with director Jeremiah Kipp to discuss the unique challenges of translating an interactive horror experience to the big screen, the creative collaboration with Willa Holland (Arrow), and what it was like working alongside the legendary creature performer Mark Steger to bring the film’s terrifying presence to life.

The Mortuary Assistant arrives in theaters on February 13 and will be available to stream on Shudder beginning March 27.

Synopsis: During her first overnight shift at the morgue, newly hired mortician Rebecca Owens falls victim to possession from a demonic entity.

In our latest interview about their new action thriller ‘Hunting Jessica Brok’, Danica Jones shared how deeply invested she became in portraying the film’s fierce, determined lead. She spoke about the physical and emotional preparation that went into bringing Jessica Brok to life. From intensive stunt training to understanding her character’s layered motivations. Jones explained that what drew her to the role was the opportunity to embody a protagonist who is both resolute in her mission and profoundly human in her vulnerabilities. She also highlighted the spirit on set, praising the director and cast for fostering a supportive and collaborative environment.

Richard Lukunku, who plays the film’s central antagonist, reflected on the complexity of his character and the challenges of striking the right balance between menace and nuance. He discussed how his role required him to dig into the psychological underpinnings of his character’s choices, making the work both demanding and rewarding. Lukunku and Jones both expressed excitement about the film’s release, emphasizing that ‘Hunting Jessica Brok’ delivers intense action as well as emotional depth. They said they hope audiences will connect with the story’s blend of high stakes, personal sacrifice, and the resilience of its characters when the film premieres.

Catch it in theaters starting February 13, 2026.

Synopsis: She was a ghost. A knife in boots. Special forces-trained, war-tested, emotionally cauterized. Once upon a time, Jessica Brok had a name that meant death in several dialects. Then she went off-grid. Vanished. She renamed herself Linda. Got a kid. A dusty little house. A vulture rescue center. Because nothing screams emotional healing like feeding dead rats to scavengers. She thought she was done being a weapon. She thought wrong. Enter Daniel. Ex-lover. Ex-comrade. Ex-everything. Long presumed dead, now resurrected in her driveway with a bullet wound and a story soaked in blood. He says they’re coming — the same men who trafficked children, murdered civilians, burned entire villages to hide the evidence. The ones they didn’t kill the first time. Turns out, evil doesn’t die. It adapts. It evolves. And it has Jessica’s name on a list. What follows is a sun-scorched fever dream of violence. Jessica is dragged back into the kill-or-be-killed ballet she thought she’d retired from. Only this time she’s slower, rustier, with a daughter who might become collateral damage. They take her. They torture her. They try to make her small again. They forget who she is. Bad idea. Jessica Brok is a chemical reaction. Grief + Guilt + Training = Apocalypse. She peels off her motherhood like a skin she no longer fits in. She becomes the ghost again. The shadow. The beast in the long grass. Armed with guilt and a knife, she unravels every inch of their outfit with the precision of someone who’s memorized anatomy from the inside out. Every scar she earns is a story. Every broken bone is an indictment. Every death she delivers is a sacrament. The bush becomes a church, and she is the sermon — brutal, efficient, and unforgettable. By the end, the question isn’t whether she’ll survive — it’s whether the part of her that’s human ever comes back. Because some people go through hell. Jessica Brok built a home there.