Exclusive Interview: Van Crosby on Turning Up the Fun and Action in ‘The Family Plan 2’

Buckle up — The Family Plan is back, and the Morgans are trading in everyday suburbia for an unforgettable adventure overseas. With new challenges and a fresh backdrop from London to Paris, the sequel raises the stakes while keeping the humor and heart that made audiences fall in love with the family the first time around. And returning right in the middle of the action is Van Crosby as Kyle Morgan.

Instead of riding in the backseat, Van gets to join the thrills head-on. From filming a tiny car sequence on a hydraulic rig high above the ground to shooting along the Seine with the Eiffel Tower lit up behind him, the experience was as exhilarating as it was surreal. And while the Morgans find themselves in even wilder predicaments, the cast’s closeness brings an undeniable warmth and spark to every moment.

Pop Culturalist caught up with Van to talk through the fun and adventure of The Family Plan 2, the scenes he couldn’t wait to film, and the exciting path ahead as he continues to grow in his craft.

PC: Your character has come a long way since the first film, and “Kyllboi” might not define him anymore. What do you think his gamer handle would be now? And separately, if you had to create a handle that represents you, what would it be and why?
Van: I think Kyle definitely still goes by “Kyllboi.” It’s too iconic now to switch—gotta stick with the branding everyone knows. [laughs] When I play games in real life, I usually go by VAdotN (it’s a little hard to explain why… that’s a story in itself), or more recently, because that name confuses people sometimes, I go by vamsandwich. That one’s easier to explain—sometimes people (myself included) typo my name as Vam, and I think it’s pretty self-explanatory from there. [laugh]

I think a gamertag or username is a weirdly clear insight into a person. I know a lot of people who picked a name when they were nine and have used it ever since, and I know others who pick a different name for every game. But either way, they’re all equally representative of someone’s personality in a super unique way, and I think that’s actually really cool.

PC: Everything is bigger and better heading into Family Plan 2. What was the scene that, when you first read it, made you go, “I cannot wait to film this”—and why?
Van: I definitely felt that way about the tiny car scene in Montmartre. I was so excited to finally be the one behind the wheel instead of stuck in the back seat. [laughs] What I wasn’t expecting was how we actually filmed it. A stunt team did the real driving, but we obviously weren’t in the car. We were up on a hydraulic rig about twenty feet off the ground, and there was a guy on the ground with a literal joystick controlling the angle when I turned the wheel and shaking us around. It was a ton of fun.
PC: We see Kyle navigating more of what it means to come into his own, which is something everyone goes through at some point. What parts of that evolution felt familiar to you personally, and where are the areas where you differ?
Van: Kyle and I are pretty similar overall. One thing I definitely relate to is how he’s come out of his shell and is really starting to blossom into his own person. I’ve gone through a similar growth over the last few years with these two movies. When we filmed the first one, I was nineteen and turned twenty, and now I’ve just turned twenty-three. So I’ve had time to develop as a person and figure out who I am, too.

PC: The chemistry among the cast has only grown since we last saw the Morgan family together. What’s one thing you’ve taken away from working with each of them this time around?
Van: From Mark — his work ethic. It’s honestly something to be admired. He’s up at 4 a.m. and still shows up knowing every line. That’s all real—seriously. He’s a true professional and a great example of what it looks like to show up and get things done.

From Michelle — her kindness. She’s truly one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. She makes a genuine effort to remember the name of every person she interacts with on set—every crew member, every day player. Nobody ever feels invisible. When someone as important as Michelle leads with that kind of warmth, it really trickles down.

From Zoe — her ability to have fun. She can just exist in any situation and be having a great time. Sometimes I’d be tired or bored and just kind of rotting between takes, but she was always able to turn that around. It definitely helps when your co-stars are actually your friends, too. [laughs]

PC: London and Paris are almost characters in this film. How did shooting on location influence your performance and help you feel grounded in the story?
Van: I’m not really the kind of person who can look at a landmark and instantly know what it is—unless it’s something you’d buy a figurine of in a gift shop. [laughs] But filming in these places with local people who could tell me exactly what we were looking at made everything feel so cool and real.

It’s amazing to be a part of something like this, and that sense of awe from standing in front of these iconic places definitely comes through in the characters. We really were on the Seine, on a boat, right in front of the Eiffel Tower. You can’t fake that feeling.

PC: Fans adore this franchise, and Kyle has become such a standout within it. If the story continues into a third installment, what new chapter would you love to explore for him?
Van: I would love to dive deeper into the computer science world for Kyle. That feels like a really natural progression for him—being the guy in the chair. And honestly, who doesn’t love the guy in the chair?

But with that said, I would also absolutely love to take on more stunts, especially with cars. I think I might be too nervous to do anything where the whole cast is actually in the car. [laughs] But I would love to be drifting and whipping around in a sick car. And the more of that we can do for real, the better.

PC: You’re one of the industry’s most exciting young talents. As you look ahead, what’s on your bucket list — what are the kinds of stories, roles, or experiences you’re hoping to take on next?
Van: I would love to do something—anything—dramatic. I’ve mostly stayed in the comedy space, and I love it; that’s definitely my comfort zone. But I’d also love the chance to show that I can do more.

And I would love, love, love to be literally anyone in James Gunn’s DCU (or the MCU… though we might be running out of characters there). [laughs] I think I could play any of the Robins depending on the timeline—Nightwing pretty please. I might look a little too young right now, but I’d also love to play The Flash or maybe Kid Flash. Those are my top two picks.

Quick lightning round of others: Beast Boy, Roy Harper, Kyle Rayner, Firestorm, Kon-El (if I work out for like three years), Shazam, and a deep cut I just learned about—Bryce Napier.

To keep up with Van, follow him on Instagram. The Family Plan 2 is out now on Apple TV+.