Apple TV+ is doubling down on the high-octane, family-centric comedy formula that made The Family Plan a surprise hit. The sequel—aptly titled The Family Plan 2—is bringing back Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan for another adrenaline-filled outing. Only this time, the Morgans are swapping suburbia for Europe in what promises to be a festive but dangerous vacation.
Back in Action: Cast & Crew Return With Reinforcements
Following its 2023 debut, The Family Plan earned a strong response from viewers despite lukewarm critical reviews, dominating Apple TV+ viewership charts during its premiere week. Mark Wahlberg’s portrayal of Dan Morgan—a former assassin turned family man—resonated with audiences looking for humor with a shot of action. Apple wasted no time greenlighting a sequel, officially announcing The Family Plan 2 in October 2024.
Director Simon Cellan Jones returns, ensuring tonal consistency, while David Coggeshall is once again handling the screenplay. Also reprising their roles are:
- Michelle Monaghan as Dan’s wife Jessica
- Zoe Colletti and Van Crosby as the Morgan children
The big new addition? Kit Harington, stepping away from Westeros and into what looks to be a much more grounded but still intense role. He’s joined by rising British actor Reda Elazouar, adding fresh faces to the action-comedy mix.
Plot: A European Vacation Gone Very, Very Wrong
This time, the Morgans head to Europe for a Christmas getaway, hoping for some long-overdue family bonding. But peace doesn’t last long. Dan’s covert past comes roaring back into the present, threatening not just his safety but his family’s. What was supposed to be a relaxing holiday turns into another globe-trotting, life-on-the-line adventure. Apple is leaning into the holiday action-comedy niche—a rare subgenre once dominated by classics like Jingle All the Way and Die Hard 2.
On-Set Drama: Kit Harington Turns Up the Heat
Behind the scenes, filming took place from January to March 2025 across multiple international locations, enhancing the sequel’s globe-hopping authenticity. According to on-set reports, one scene involving Harington’s character physically attacking Dan (Wahlberg) and threatening Jessica (Monaghan) aboard a bus raised eyebrows. It signals a more intense, perhaps even darker, tone for the sequel—one that could further deepen Dan’s internal conflict as a man caught between domestic normalcy and his deadly past.
Harington, often associated with brooding heroes, may be flipping the script here by playing a villain or anti-hero. Fans of Game of Thrones and Blood for Dust are already speculating about his exact role.
Where Things Stand: Release Timing and Apple TV+ Strategy
With filming now wrapped, The Family Plan 2 is deep in post-production. While no official release date has been confirmed, industry insiders and production schedules suggest a holiday 2025 debut—likely in December.
Apple TV+ appears to be making this a key holiday tentpole release. The timing also aligns with Apple’s broader push into franchise filmmaking, as seen with recent sequels and spin-offs like Argylle 2 and Star City (For All Mankind spin-off). Apple is carving out space in the streaming wars by betting on rewatchable, high-concept action-comedies with marquee talent.
Where to Watch
As with the first film, The Family Plan 2 will be exclusive to Apple TV+. The platform still offers a 7-day free trial, after which it’s $9.99/month—a relatively low cost compared to competitors, especially for those drawn in by exclusive content like Ted Lasso, Severance, and now this growing action-comedy series.
Quick Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | The Family Plan 2 |
| Platform | Apple TV+ (exclusive) |
| Main Cast | Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan, Zoe Colletti, Van Crosby |
| New Cast | Kit Harington, Reda Elazouar |
| Director | Simon Cellan Jones |
| Writer | David Coggeshall |
| Plot | Christmas vacation in Europe disrupted by Dan’s old enemies |
| Filming Dates | January – March 2025 |
| Status | In post-production |
| Expected Release | Holiday 2025 (TBD) |
| Genre | Action, Comedy, Family, Holiday |
The Family Plan 2 is shaping up to be a bigger, bolder follow-up that leans into the franchise’s identity: action with heart, laughs with stakes. With a European backdrop, a festive setting, and Kit Harington entering the fray, Apple might have another crowd-pleasing hit on its hands just in time for the holidays.
Key Takeaways
- Mark Wahlberg and the original cast are back for “The Family Plan 2” on Apple TV+.
- The Morgans are heading to Europe for more action-comedy chaos.
- The first movie was a streaming hit, even if some critics didn’t love it.
Overview of Apple TV+ The Family Plan 2
Apple’s jumping on the sequel train after the first film’s surprising success. The original cast and creative crew are coming back, and the story’s picking up right where things left off with the Morgan family.
Synopsis and Returning Characters
So, what’s next for Dan Morgan (Mark Wahlberg)? He’s still a former government assassin trying to keep his head down as a suburban car salesman. After his past blew up in his face last time (seriously, it got wild), it sounds like the sequel will throw even more curveballs at his family.
The core cast is locked in—Wahlberg and Monaghan are back as the parents, with Zoe Colletti and Van Crosby reprising their roles as the kids.
No one’s spilling much about the plot yet, but chances are we’ll see the family dealing with Dan’s secret life now that the cat’s out of the bag. The first movie set up a lot of trust issues, so who knows how that’ll play out this time?
Production Team and Creative Leadership
Simon Cellan Jones is back in the director’s chair, which should keep things feeling familiar. David Coggeshall’s expected to handle the script again, so hopefully the characters will stay true to what worked in the first film.
On the production side, it’s:
- Apple Original Films – main distributor
- Skydance Media – production muscle
- Municipal Pictures – Wahlberg’s own company
Producers David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger are all in, and Wahlberg will probably be wearing his producer hat too.
This sequel is another sign that Apple is dead serious about building out its own film franchises. They’re clearly trying to bulk up their original lineup to keep up with the other big streamers.
Genre, Tone, and Sequel Development
“The Family Plan 2” sticks with the action-comedy vibe: expect wild stunts, big laughs, and a lot of family banter. The first movie was a mashup of fight scenes and awkward-but-funny parent-kid moments (relatable, right?).
Audiences seemed to dig it, even if critics were lukewarm—fans compared it favorably to other family-centric comedies. That buzz basically guaranteed a sequel.
It sounds like things are still early, so there isn’t a hard release date yet. But Apple TV+ is probably hoping lightning strikes twice.
This is all part of Apple’s bigger plan to turn their originals into must-watch franchises. They’re definitely not slowing down.
Key Themes and Unique Elements of The Family Plan 2
The sequel’s cranking things up: new countries, new faces, and bigger stakes for the Morgans. It’s building on what people liked the first time, but with a few new tricks.
European Holiday and Global Appeal
This time, “The Family Plan 2” sends the Morgans off on a European vacation. That’s a pretty big leap from the first movie’s wild road trip to Vegas. More countries, more chaos—seems like a recipe for fun.
Dan Morgan (Wahlberg) is back in protective-dad mode, trying to keep his family safe while supposedly relaxing overseas. The European setting should bring a fresh look and maybe some new kinds of trouble. Plus, it’s got that international flavor that could draw in viewers from all over.
Rumor has it the movie’s leaning into Christmas themes, which probably means Apple’s eyeing a holiday release (makes sense, right?). That should add some extra warmth (and maybe a little chaos) to the family story.
New Storyline Twists and Action Set Pieces
Kit Harington’s joining the cast—yep, Jon Snow himself. Supposedly, his character’s got ties to Dan’s old government days, so expect new threats and, well, more complications.
The original family is all back: Michelle Monaghan, Zoe Colletti, and Van Crosby are reprising their roles as Dan’s wife and kids. This time, the family probably knows more about Dan’s secret past, which could make things even messier (in a good way).
Director Simon Cellan Jones is sticking around, so if you liked the first film’s style, you’re probably in luck. The action scenes are expected to be even bigger, with European cities as the new playground for car chases, fights, and comedic disasters.
Release Details and Promotional Material
There’s no exact release date yet, but the Christmas angle suggests a late 2025 launch on Apple TV+. Filming’s underway as of late 2024, so things are definitely moving.
Apple’s clearly hoping to build on the first film’s momentum—it was, after all, one of their most-watched movies. This sequel is another piece in their bigger plan to create original franchises.
Expect trailers and promos to play up the action and the family comedy. The European holiday setting should give them plenty of cool visuals for the ads.
And, as before, you’ll need Apple TV+ to watch. If you’re sharing with family, Family Sharing still lets up to six people watch on one subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here’s a quick rundown for anyone curious about “The Family Plan 2” on Apple TV+. Release dates, cast, where to watch, and more—it’s all here.
When is the release date for ‘The Family Plan 2’ on Apple TV+?
“The Family Plan 2” is aiming for a late 2025 premiere on Apple TV+. There’s no official day yet, but it’s coming.
The original dropped on Apple TV+ back in December 2023.
Who are the main cast members in ‘The Family Plan 2’?
Mark Wahlberg is back as Dan Morgan, the ex-assassin dad. Michelle Dockery (yep, not Monaghan here) is returning as Jessica, Dan’s wife.
Zoe Colletti and Van Crosby are back as the Morgan kids, and there are some new faces too—Jason Momoa’s joining as the new villain.
Can ‘The Family Plan 2’ be watched on platforms other than Apple TV+?
Nope, “The Family Plan 2” is exclusive to Apple TV+. You won’t find it on Netflix, Hulu, or anywhere else.
You’ll need an Apple TV+ subscription, but you can watch through the Apple TV app on pretty much any device—iPhone, iPad, smart TVs, you name it.
Has a trailer for ‘The Family Plan 2’ been released?
There’s already a teaser trailer out as of April 2025. The full trailer is supposed to hit in September 2025.
The teaser gives a few quick shots of the Morgans in another wild adventure, and it’s already picking up buzz online.
What are the filming locations for ‘The Family Plan 2’?
Most of the shooting happened in Miami and Las Vegas. Some of the big action scenes were filmed in Atlanta, Georgia.
They also did some filming in Vancouver for the Pacific Northwest scenes. Production wrapped up in February 2025 after about three months of work.
Is ‘The Family Plan 2’ considered a holiday-themed film?
Honestly, not really. Unlike the first movie, which had a few holiday vibes sprinkled in, “The Family Plan 2” doesn’t go down that road. This time around, the whole story unfolds in the summertime.
The sequel jumps right into a family vacation that, well, takes a pretty wild turn when Dan’s past decides to show up (again—doesn’t it always?). With everything happening in the summer, you get those beachy moments and some fun tropical backdrops—stuff they couldn’t really pull off in the original.
