Jamie Foxx will always be in Cameron Diaz’s corner.
Foxx, 57, was a huge supporter of Diaz, 52, as she made a triumphant return to acting with her first film in more than a decade, Back in actionsaid director Seth Gordon.
“Anyone who was on set will tell you that he was the biggest cheerleader and hype man for her, and really for everyone involved, but especially for her,” Gordon, 48, tells PEOPLE exclusively about Foxx and Diaz.
The filmmaker adds that Diaz later supported Foxx throughout are returns after the actor suffered a medical emergency in April 2023, which paused filming for a while.
“She had to give back spiritually in that way,” says Gordon. “It was a very unusual situation to navigate, but it makes a big difference when they have this old friendship, and it comes from such a good place.”
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John Wilson/Netflix
Foxx and Diaz previously played together in 2014 Annie — the actress’s last film before it Back in action.
The duo first shared the screen in 1999 Any given Sundaywhich follows a fictional professional football team.
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Back in action Foxx and Diaz play former CIA spies Matt and Emily. “Years after giving up their lives as CIA spies to start a family, Emily and Matt are dragged back into the world of espionage when their cover is blown,” an official synopsis explains.
Others in the Netflix film’s cast include Glenn Close, Kyle Chandler, Andrew Scott, McKenna Roberts, Rylan Jackson and Jamie Demetriou.
John Wilson/Netflix
Diaz – who is expected to return alongside Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy Shrek 5 in 2026 — previously announced her return to acting in June 2022.
A source close to the star told PEOPLE at the time that she was feeling “a little rusty and nervous” but “mostly excited” about her comeback. They added that her husband Benji Madden “encouraged her to retire.”
Foxx told me later Entertainment tonight that he convinced Diaz to come to the set by promising her they would have fun. “So it was literally, ‘Want to have some fun? Just have some fun!’ And I think that’s what made her tick,” he explained. “We sometimes miss special moments in our business and I think this is a special moment. So we’re so happy that it’s happening and we’re looking forward to it.”
In an interview published by Empire on December 13, Diaz revealed that it’s “hard to say” if she’ll return for another film next Back in actionwhich states, “I reserve the right to say no to making a movie ever again, and I reserve the right to say yes if I decide to do so.”
Back in action is currently available to stream on Netflix.