SPOILER ALERT: This article contains details on the plot and ending of “Carry-On,” now streaming on Netflix.
In “Carry-On,” Sofia Carson plays Nora, the pregnant girlfriend of Ethan (Taron Egerton), a TSA agent at LAX who has been blackmailed to take part in a plot to take down a plane with chemical weapons stashed in carry-on luggage.
Nora also works at the airport and the blackmailer (Jason Bateman) threatens to have her killed if Ethan doesn’t do what he says.
Carson received the script after her romantic drama “Purple Hearts,” became a huge hit on Netflix in 2022. “I remember reading the headline, which was ‘Carry-On, action, thriller, starring Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman as the villain, that takes place at LAX, produced by Amblin, Steven Spielberg,’” she tells me on the latest episode of the “Just for Variety” podcast. “And then in quotations, or in parentheses, was ‘Die Hard.’ I was like, ‘Say no more, say no more.’”
This is the ultimate what-would-you-do movie.
It’s an extraordinary circumstance. It’s an impossible situation to be in. I’d like to say that I would do everything that Ethan did, but my God, what a terrifying place to be in.
Is “Carry-On” a Christmas movie?
It’s whatever you want it to be for yourself. And I think [co-star] Danielle [Deadwyler] said something so brilliant. She said, “This is a Christmaction movie.” And that’s what I’m going to say from now on. But I do think “Die Hard” is such a beloved Christmas film for a huge population, and I think that Christmas films can have different genres. One of them is action, and this is an action Christmas film.
What is it about Christmas and action films?
It’s a great question. I actually think it brings together two really beloved and two really universal genres. Action movies, travel, the entire universe. It doesn’t matter what language you speak, what culture, what country you live in. Everyone loves an action thriller and everyone loves a holiday film because it’s just warm and comforting and brings us all together. So I think in bringing both of those genres together, you’re in essence bringing the world together.
Should people watch this before they head to the airport to travel home for Christmas?
I think they should. When I finished filming this movie, I left seeing airports in entirely different light, but in a good way — in terms of what it takes to be a TSA agent, to be an airport operations director, to be every single person at every level that works at an airport, and the sacrifices they make and the extents that they go to, the lengths to keep us safe. When people watch this film, I hope they go into their holiday travels with a heart full of empathy for all airport workers.
I love when Ethan saves the day when there are just two seconds before the bombs go off.
Taron is so excellent at that. When the world first saw him in “Kingsman,” we were like, “Wow, this guy is a star.” And I think what’s so special about Ethan Kopek is that he is your regular everyday guy who’s actually almost… he’s lost in life. He’s lost his way. He’s lost a sense of who he is. He’s put in this extraordinary circumstance and he does extraordinary things. And he’s just this regular guy. He plays that so well, so rounded, so layered, so complex — it’s really, really thrilling to watch as an audience.
Were you on set the day Jason Bateman died in the refrigerator?
I was not, but how epic is that?
It’s going to go down as a classic killing.
Wow. That’s a lot to say.
It’s so absurd.
Especially at the line at the end when Danielle is like, “Where’s the guy?” And he goes, “In the fridge.” “Where’s the bomb?” “Same fridge.”
Then he comes out of the plane and Danielle’s like, “Everyone get on hazmat suits.” But Ethan kisses Nora. That stuff from the chemical weapon could be on him.
You’re right. I hadn’t thought of that! Marc, this is a movie. Don’t think of those things.
I know we haven’t spoken about this in a while, but has there been any talk on a “Purple Hearts” sequel? When are we going to see it?
There are conversations. That’s all I’ll say.
You want it to happen?
I love Cassie, and I loved making this film, and I feel so passionate and so protective of it. So I’m very protective of how and if the sequel happens But it’s extraordinary that I get asked so much about it. Even just that is a gift. I know fans really loved it.
This Q&A was edited for length and clarity. Listen to the full conversation with Carson on the “Just for Variety” podcast.