Mark Wahlberg Reveals The One Holiday Tradition That's Non-Negotiable in His House

Mark Wahlberg Reveals The One Holiday Tradition That's Non-Negotiable in His House By  Michael Zimmermann Published 23 minutes ago Michael Zimmermann is a video host and interviewer at Collider. In addition to his work on Collider's Behind the Scenes video channel, Michael covers junkets, red carpets and premieres. He also contributes to the music vertical, writing features and lists. As a Jersey Shore local, Michael's hero is Bruce Springsteen — and you can't convince him that Born To Run is a better album than Darkness on the Edge of Town. Sign in to your Collider account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Summary

• Mark Wahlberg & MichelleMonaghan return as Dan and Jessica in a warm, action-packed holiday sequel, The Family Plan 2.
• Filmed across London and Paris, the sequel ups stunts, big set pieces, and holiday heart.
• The cast leaned into stunt work and choreography for funny, tender holiday action.

Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan are back as Dan and Jessica Morgan in The Family Plan 2, two years after the release of the original film. Simon Cellan Jones returns as director, along with Zoe Colletti and Van Crosby, who play Nina and Kyle Morgan. The sequel is centered around being with family during the holidays, and not letting distance get in the way of that. As was the case with the original The Family Plan film, this one excites with huge set pieces, plenty of laughs and warming tender moments.

Wahlberg and Monaghan filmed all over the world during the production of this movie, highlighted by London and Paris. In an interview with Collider, they spoke about their experience filming in those iconic cities, revisiting their fan-favorite characters and the challenges of action sequences. Check out the full conversation in the video above or the transcript below for more.

Following Up A Record-Breaking Apple TV+ Film

“The heart and the humor is the thing that made the first one so popular.”

Image via Apple TV

I'm curious because in sequels… Did it feel like you picked up where you left off from the first one? Did it feel like any time had passed?

MARK WAHLBERG: I mean, other than the fact that we kind of all missed each other and once we got over that, we kind of picked up where we left off for sure. But working with Simon does that.

Mark, you had worked in between these two films with Simon as well. Did it feel like you guys were familiar with everything that he likes? Between takes, notes. Did that help during the second one?

WAHLBERG: Yeah. He's a joy to work. We've all got a shorthand.

MICHELLE MONAGHAN: Yeah. He's so jolly. He's so enthusiastic. He knows what he wants. He also encourages us to improv and have fun and just be in the moment. He also works really fast. We've got a great DP. It's just fast and furious. It's a cohesive unit that we've got, and really fun. It's very familial.

What was it about this script that made you want to bring these characters back and tell another story with this family?

WAHLBERG: Well, they figured out a way to make it better than the first, and they figured out a way to expand the family, introduce new characters, and, and also, obviously, you could add more action, more stunts, bigger set pieces and all that stuff. Which is cool, but, you know, lots of movies have that. But the heart and the humor is the thing that made the first one so popular and, and it's why people love this one.

Taking Action To The Streets of London and Paris

“To be able to experience everything and shoot out all these landmarks…it was quite special.”

Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan in Family Plan 2 on Apple TV+Image via Apple TV

What was the best part about filming in London and Paris?

WAHLBERG: Paris has always been my favorite city. I had made a movie there many moons ago, and I had such a wonderful experience, and just kind of embracing the culture in that world, which I had never really had time to see or enjoy. But I really fell in love with London this time around too, because we were here during the holidays and we were shooting in central London, usually around the studio somewhere in a dark building with nobody around and to be able to experience everything and shoot out all these landmarks and everything, it was quite special.

What kind of prep goes into nailing down the choreography of these hand-to-hand combat sequences?

MONAGHAN: We're so lucky that we have an amazing stunt coordinator and incredible team. We've got great stunt doubles. I was excited because Jessica, obviously, is a decathlete. They decided to really lean into those skills once again, and beyond the pole vault. This time she got to do a really big long jump. For me, that was great, because I got to get on some wires and actually do the thing. The fight sequences, I really worked hard at choreography, working with the team, and it ends up being a really fun sequence. That's quite cool. And I'm proud of, you know this guy, he works hard, but he just kind of picks it up. Really easily. And he does like three takes, and he's done and he's nailed it. And, you know, it's taken the months of me preparing. So I'm slightly, slightly jealous.

WAHLBERG: They realize that I'm old and banged up and they’re like, “Let’s not wear him out. We need him tomorrow too.”

MONAGHAN: True as well.

Is that true, Mark? It only takes you three takes?

WAHLBERG: I don't know if I have much more than that at this age! We want to make it look and feel real. We get in there and get it done.

I want to talk about one sequence in particular — the car chase sequence. And Mark, you're kind of a little, you know, loopy during this scene as well while everything is going on. What was it like to film that? I know Simon said it took a couple days to do that as well.

WAHLBERG: Fun. I thought I was going to be able to, like, kind of duck my head, put a double in there and I'd be off walking around, seeing the sights in Paris. But I had my head up and doing all this other stuff like moaning and groaning and chiming in all the time. We knew it would make for a fun and funny sequence. It's beautiful. I made it very difficult for them to get me out to the car, in the car and all that stuff.

MONAGHAN: We were really stuffed in that car like sardines, make no bones about it. I mean, but we were also in one of the most beautiful parts of Paris, being up in Montmartre and being able to drive through those streets and shutting off all the streets. And it was a really, really fun sequence. And I think audiences are going to just absolutely love it.

Bringing Holiday Spirit To The Sequel

“We want that time to be together and as a family.”

Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan and Zoe Colletti in Family Plan 2 on Apple TV+Image via Apple TV

I want to finish up by asking… So a non-negotiable for the Morgan family is being with family around Christmas time in the holidays. What's one non-negotiable for each of you during the holiday season?

WAHLBERG & MONAGHAN: Same!

Is there one tradition that you have to do that's non-negotiable?

WAHLBERG: Well, my wife's holiday card. The way she wants it. I'm just like, “Please, guys, just cooperate. I'm going to be the one who gets hammered.” And then, look, we just want to be together. Everybody's kind of off and doing their own thing, which I get. But, we want that time to be together and as a family.

The Family Plan 2 is available to stream on Apple TV+.

Like Follow Followed The Family Plan 2 PG-13 Action Comedy Release Date November 21, 2025 Runtime 106 Minutes Director Simon Cellan Jones Writers David Coggeshall

Cast

See All

• Mark Wahlberg Dan Morgan
• Michelle Monaghan Jessica Morgan
• Kit Harington Aidan
• Zoe Colletti Nina Morgan

Genres Action, Comedy Powered by Expand Collapse

• Interviews
• Movie
• The Family Plan 2

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