Are Danny Trejo’s Machete Movies & Spy Kids Set In The Same Universe?
After wrapping up the OG “Spy Kids” trilogy and directing “Sin City,” Robert Rodriguez teamed up with Quentin Tarantino in 2007 for “Grindhouse,” which was billed as double feature. Before each film, a series of fake trailers were presented from directors like Rob Zombie and Edgar Wright. Rodriguez decided to create one as well, for “Machete.” The trailer proved to be a success, compelling Rodriguez to make a feature-length version of it in 2010.
Upon release, “Machete” became a sleeper hit, earning just over $46 million worldwide. Trejo, who went from being a prison inmate to an action star, was praised for his work in the film. It was clearly popular enough that a sequel titled “Machete Kills” manifested in 2013. It’s not surprising that the character caught on, since Trejo believes Machete is as culturally relevant as Batman or Superman.
With “Machete,” the “Spy Kids” saga got a bit complex. We know that Machete exists in both universes, but the R-rated film also featured actors from the “Spy Kids” flicks … only not playing their child-friendly characters. Daryl Sabara, the actor who played Juni Cortez from the OG “Spy Kid” trilogy, starred in “Machete” as Julio, while Alexa PenaVega, who headlined as Carmen in “Spy Kids,” showed up in “Machete Kills” as a character named KillJoy. Unfortunately, the future of the franchise is currently uncertain, though there were previously rumblings that a third film might happen.