Carry-On: release date, cast, plot, trailer, interviews and everything you need to know about Taron Egerton's Christmas airport thriller

Carry-On on Netflix stars Taron Egerton as a blackmailed airport worker Ethan Kopek (see first look above).
Carry-On on Netflix stars Taron Egerton as a blackmailed airport worker Ethan Kopek (see first look above). (Image credit: Netflix)

Carry-On is a tense Christmas movie thriller on Netflix starring Rocketman actor Taron Egerton and Ozark star Jason Bateman. There are real Die Hard vibes in this, including its festive setting!

After playing real-life characters Sir Elton John and British skier Eddie The Eagle in his previous hit movies, Taron Egerton is taking on the role of a fictional young airport security agent forced to commit a terrifying crime. Ethan Kopek is a transportation security administration agent who is forced by a mysterious traveler, played by Ozark’s Jason Bateman, to allow a dangerous package through security and onto a Christmas Day flight. 

Here’s everything you need to know about about Carry-On on Netflix…  

Carry-On poster.

Carry-On poster. (Image credit: Netflix)

Taron Egerton as airport worker Ethan in Carry-On.

Taron Egerton as airport worker Ethan in Carry-On. (Image credit: Netflix)

Carry-On release date 

The movie Carry-On will premiere worldwide on Netflix from Friday December 13 2024.

Is there a trailer for Carry-On?

Yes a rather tense official trailer and teaser trailer have been released for Carry-On so do take a look at Taron in action below as the airport worker who has a nightmare on Christmas Eve...

Carry-On | Official Trailer | Netflix - YouTube Carry-On | Official Trailer | Netflix - YouTube
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Carry-On | Official Teaser | Netflix - YouTube Carry-On | Official Teaser | Netflix - YouTube
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Carry-On plot 

Carry-On follows Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton), a young airport security agent at Los Angeles airport who is blackmailed by a mysterious traveler, played by Jason Bateman, on Christmas Eve. He is then forced to allow a dangerous package to slip through security and onto a Christmas Day flight. 

It's a Christmas from hell for Ethan in Carry-On.

It's a Christmas Eve from hell for Ethan Kopek in Carry-On. (Image credit: Netflix)

Carry-On cast — Taron Egerton on starring as Ethan Kopek

Taron Egerton plays airport security worker Ethan Kopek on Carry On. He says: "Here’s an everyday guy who becomes extraordinary through necessity over the course of a single day — Ethan is pretty noble and selfless. He has all the qualities of an archetypal hero, so when he's put in this terrible situation he has a huge occasion to rise to!

"Making Carry-On was a juggling act between grounding it and making it feel real and relatable, but also kinetic and exciting."

On acting against an earpiece for most of the film, Taron says: "There were times when I was lucky enough to have Jason Bateman come in and perform with me from another room and it was an incredible luxury. But those early scenes in the movie where I didn’t really have anything or anyone to interact with except for a voice in my ear were a new kind of challenge! Lots of actors will say that the secret to good acting is reacting and getting the focus off yourself — which is really hard when you’re staring at a blank screen and talking to somebody who’s not there. But you play into your imagination."

* Taron Egerton’s star is high right now, after his turns as Elton John in the biopic Rocketman and as Gary ‘Eggsy’ Unwin in The Kingsman movies. He also played British Olympic skier Eddie the Eagle in the film about his life as well as starring in Black Bird, The Smoke, Robin Hood and Billionaire Boys Club. Taron’s also lent his voice to animations such as Sing, Sing 2, Moominvalley and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. He will also star in the upcoming film Tetris

Taron Egerton as Ethan Kopek in Carry-On.

Taron Egerton as Ethan Kopek in Carry-On. (Image credit: Netflix)

Taron Egerton as prisoner Jimmy in Black Bird standing in a prison on the phone.

Taron Egerton as prisoner Jimmy in Black Bird. (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Jason Bateman on playing the mysterious blackmailer 

In Carry-On Jason Bateman plays an unnamed stranger who blackmails Ethan into letting him evade security. Jason says: "I don’t get a chance to play a bad guy that often, mostly because I don’t think I’m super believable as one. But Traveler isn’t really the petting-the-white-cat, twirling-the-mustache kind of bad guy. He’s a little more like you and me: He’s got a job to do and he’s going to find a way to do it. That was my approach to it. It’s a bit more modern.

"Taron Egerton is an incredibly personable, kind, energetic professional. He just seems perfect to me. No one’s that great, but he seems like he just might be. Taron’s got a very sincere, genuine quality about him that’s human and kind and optimistic, not cynical or pessimistic. That’s important for this particular character that he’s playing, too."

* Jason Bateman started his career as a youngster, playing James Cooper in Little House on the Prairie, and has been acting ever since. Jason played  Marty Byrde in Ozark and has also starred in Arrested Development, The Outsider, Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery, Game Night, Horrible Bosses and Couples Retreat

Jason Bateman as the mysterious blackmailer in Carry-On.

Jason Bateman as the mysterious blackmailer in Carry-On. (Image credit: Netflix)

Laura Linney and Jason Bateman standing against a leafy background in Ozark

Jason Bateman with Laura Linney in Ozark. (Image credit: Netflix)

Logan Marshall-Green as Agent Alcott

Logan Marshall-Green plays Agent Alcott in Carry-On. He made his name in shows such as The O.C and 24. He has since starred in Prometheus, Big Sky, Lou, The Listener, Redeeming Love, Shadowplay and Spider-Man Homecoming

Logan Marshall-Green standing in front of a bright yellow backing board wearing a grey suit

Logan Marshall-Green. (Image credit: Getty)

 Who else is starring in Carry-On? 

Carry-On also stars Sofia Carson (Descendants), as Ethan's girlfriend Nora Parisi. She says: "I’ve always been drawn to complex and interesting female characters and the worlds in which they live, and Nora stood out to me from the moment I started reading Carry-On. I loved that it was an action-thriller, but our leading lady was never a damsel in distress. She’s this confident, fearless, brave young woman, and I was drawn to her self-assurance and fearlessness to go after everything that she wants in life. She’s 29, she’s the director of operations at LAX, and is expecting a baby with a man that she loves. She wants it all and she’s doing it all."

Other stars include Danielle Deadwyler (Till, Station Eleven) as detective Elena Cole, plus Josh Brener (The Mighty Ones) as Herschel, Theo Rossi (Sons of Anarchy). Dean Norris (Breaking Bad) is Phil Sarkowski and Sinqua Walls (Teen Wolf) plays Jason Noble. Other cast are Gil Perez-Abraham (Eddie), Tonatiuh (Mateo Flores), Curtiss Cook (Lionel Williams) and Joe Williamson (Ron Dunn).

Danielle Deadwyler in Carry-On.

Danielle Deadwyler as detective Elena Cole in Carry-On. (Image credit: Netflix)

Josh Brener standing in front of a white backing board wearing a grey suit.

Josh Brener as Herschel. (Image credit: Getty)

Behind the scenes and more on Carry-On...

Carry-On was filmed mostly in 2023. Although it's set at LAX in Los Angeles, the action was filmed at New Orleans airpot. The movie's director is Jaume Collet-Serra, while the writers are TJ Fixman, Michael Green and the producer is Dylan Clark. The director of Photography is Lyle Vincent and production designer is Diane Lederman. 

Carry-On poster.

Carry-On poster. (Image credit: Netflix)
Nicholas Cannon
TV Content Director on TV Times, What's On TV and TV & Satellite Week

I'm a huge fan of television so I really have found the perfect job, as I've been writing about TV shows, films and interviewing major television, film and sports stars for over 25 years. I'm currently TV Content Director on What's On TV, TV Times, TV and Satellite Week magazines plus Whattowatch.com. I previously worked on Woman and Woman's Own in the 1990s. Outside of work I swim every morning, support Charlton Athletic football club and get nostalgic about TV shows Cagney & Lacey, I Claudius, Dallas and Tenko. I'm totally on top of everything good coming up too.

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