It was 2004. Frankie Muniz was basically the king of the world, or at least the king of middle schoolers everywhere. He’d already nailed the "spy next door" vibe in the first movie, but then came the sequel. Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London. It was sillier. It was louder. It had a double-decker bus chase and a mind-control plot involving world leaders at Buckingham Palace. Looking back, the cast of Cody Banks 2 is such a bizarre, nostalgic time capsule of early-2000s stardom and British character actors who probably wondered how they ended up in a movie about a teen spy with a jetpack.
Most people remember Frankie and maybe Anthony Anderson. But if you actually sit down and rewatch it, you realize the ensemble was a weirdly effective mix of child stars who stayed in the lime-light and veteran actors who were clearly just having a blast for a paycheck.
The Lead Duo: Frankie Muniz and Anthony Anderson
Frankie Muniz was the engine. Honestly, at the time, we all thought he’d be the next Tom Cruise. He had that frantic, relatable energy from Malcolm in the Middle that translated perfectly to Cody Banks. But Cody Banks 2 was essentially the beginning of his pivot away from the Hollywood grind. People forget that Muniz didn't just fade away; he chose a completely different life. He became a professional race car driver. Then he joined a band called Kingsfoil. Most recently, he’s been back in the public eye on Dancing with the Stars and making guest appearances in stuff like The Rookie, but he’s remarkably candid about how much of that era is a literal blur to him due to health issues and the sheer pace of child stardom.
Then you have Anthony Anderson as Derek Bowman. He replaced Hilary Duff’s "handler" role from the first film, bringing a totally different vibe. Anderson was already a known commodity, but this was right before he hit that legendary run with The Departed, Transformers, and eventually Black-ish. In the movie, he’s the "bumbling but capable" sidekick. Seeing him now, it’s wild to think he was once the guy getting kicked in the face in a kids' spy movie. He provided the comedic muscle that the sequel desperately needed because, let's be real, the script was a bit thinner than the original.
Hannah Spearritt and the S Club 7 Connection
If you were a kid in the UK or a very specific type of pop music fan in the US, Hannah Spearritt was the biggest deal in the cast of Cody Banks 2. She played Emily Sommers, the British undercover agent/love interest. Before this, she was one-seventh of S Club 7.
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Her career trajectory after the movie is actually pretty interesting. While many pop stars fail the transition to acting, Spearritt became a staple of British TV. She landed a lead role in the cult-hit sci-fi series Primeval, which ran for years. Recently, she’s been in the news for more personal reasons, speaking openly about the financial struggles even "famous" people face and her time on Dancing on Ice. She brought a legitimate charm to the movie that made the London setting feel slightly less like a Hollywood caricature.
The Supporting Players You Definitely Recognize Now
This is where the movie gets fun for trivia nerds.
James Faulkner played the villain, Lord Kendrick. You might know him better as the terrifying Randyll Tarly from Game of Thrones—the guy who wouldn't let Samwell have his inheritance. Seeing him go from a high-stakes fantasy drama to a movie where he tries to brainwash world leaders with microchips is the kind of range only British character actors possess.
Then there’s Cynthia Stevenson as Cody’s mom. She’s one of those "Oh, it’s that lady!" actresses who has been in everything from Dead Like Me to Air Bud. She and Daniel Roebuck (who played Cody’s dad) provided the "normalcy" that made the spy stuff seem even more ridiculous. Roebuck, by the way, is a total legend in the horror community and a frequent collaborator with Rob Zombie.
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The London Crew
- Anna Chancellor: She played Lady Josephine Kenworth. You’ve seen her in Four Weddings and a Funeral and The Crown. She’s British acting royalty.
- Keith Allen: Playing Victor Diaz, Allen is a massive figure in British counter-culture (and yes, he’s Lily Allen’s dad). He brings a weird, edgy energy to a PG movie.
- Santiago Segura: He was Dr. Santiago. Segura is actually one of the biggest stars in Spain, famous for the Torrente series. His inclusion was a clear nod to the international market.
Why This Cast Worked (Despite the Critics)
Critics absolutely thrashed this movie. It sits at a pretty grim percentage on Rotten Tomatoes. But the cast of Cody Banks 2 didn't phone it in. There’s a specific kind of skill required to act opposite a CGI dog or pretend you’re flying a motorized umbrella through London.
The chemistry between Muniz and Anderson is what carries the film. It’s a buddy-cop movie disguised as a sequel for twelve-year-olds. While the first movie felt like a "junior Bond" flick, the sequel leaned into the slapstick. That shift only works if the actors are willing to look stupid, and Anthony Anderson is never afraid to look stupid for a laugh.
The Weird Cultural Legacy
You don’t see movies like this anymore. Mid-budget, live-action kids' movies have mostly migrated to streaming services or been replaced by $200 million animated features. Cody Banks 2 was part of that final era of the "theatrical tween blockbuster."
When we look at the cast of Cody Banks 2 today, we’re looking at a crossroads of careers. You have the child star on his way out (Muniz), the sitcom star on his way to the A-list (Anderson), and the pop star trying to find a second act (Spearritt). It’s a fascinating snapshot of 2004 entertainment.
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What to Watch Next If You’re Nostalgic
If you’re revisiting this cast, don't just stop at the sequel.
- For Muniz fans: Watch Malcolm in the Middle again. It’s actually better as an adult. Or check out his recent interviews about his NASCAR career; his passion for racing is genuinely infectious.
- For Anderson fans: Skip the early stuff and go straight to Black-ish. It shows exactly how much he matured as an actor and producer.
- For Hannah Spearritt fans: Find Primeval. It’s a great bit of mid-2000s British sci-fi that deserves more love.
The Verdict on the Sequel’s Ensemble
The cast of Cody Banks 2 wasn't trying to win Oscars. They were making a fun, slightly chaotic movie for kids who wanted to see London get turned upside down. Most of the actors have moved on to vastly different things—racing, prestige TV, or stage acting—but they all seem to look back on the project with a "yeah, that was a weird time" kind of fondness.
If you’re planning a rewatch, keep an eye out for the small cameos. The movie is packed with British character actors who have since appeared in Doctor Who, Sherlock, and the Harry Potter franchise. It’s like a "Where’s Waldo" of British talent.
Next Steps for the Nostalgic Viewer
If you want to dive deeper into this era of cinema, your best bet is to check out the "Special Features" on old physical copies if you can find them. The behind-the-scenes footage of the London shoot shows just how much work went into the practical stunts before everything became green-screened. You can also follow Frankie Muniz on social media; he’s surprisingly active and often shares bits of trivia from his acting days when fans ask. For a real trip, look up the soundtrack—it’s a pristine collection of early 2000s pop-rock that will immediately transport you back to the days of iPod Minis and cargo pants.