Lionël Ruzindana continues his rise in Global Cinema, appears in “The Family Plan 2”released on Apple TV+
Rwandan actor Lionël Ruzindana, known for his role in the Netflix thriller La Terre et le Sang, has added another major international production to his growing portfolio, appearing in the newly released American film The Family Plan 2. The movie premiered on Apple TV+ on November 21, 2025.
Ruzindana, who features in the film as a security guard, expressed gratitude to his agent for securing him the opportunity. “I thank my agent for these extraordinary chances. I look forward to seeing what the future holds,” he wrote after the film’s release.
The Family Plan 2 follows the story of a man planning a Christmas vacation with his family, only to have his troubled past resurface and disrupt their holiday. The film was directed by Simon Cellan Jones and written by David Coggeshall, with scenes shot in the United Kingdom, France, and the United States.
The production includes prominent names such as Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan, Zoe Colletti, Van Crosby, and Kit Harington, adding to the film’s global appeal.
A Rwandan Talent Shining Abroad
Born in Kigali in 1978, Ruzindana is the eldest of three children. He grew up in Gikondo until 1994 and later moved to Europe, living in Belgium before relocating to France, where he has spent the past five years. Both of his parents are Rwandan.
He completed primary school in Kigali before continuing his education in Belgium at Institut Sainte-Marie, where he also discovered his passion for theatre. “That is where I began acting,” he recalled.
A Steady Climb in the Film Industry
Ruzindana began appearing in films in 2015, later securing a breakthrough role in the 2018 production Troisièmes Noces by David Lambert. In 2019, director Philippe Lyon cast him in Plein La Vue, further raising his profile.
His international breakthrough came in 2020, when director Julien Leclercq selected him for the Netflix-featured film La Terre et Le Sang. The role, he says, marked the realization of a long-held dream.
Ruzindana also appeared in Farid Bentoumi’s film Rouge, again portraying a security guard. To join the cast of La Terre et Le Sang, he underwent a competitive audition process, ultimately being chosen for the role of “Süleyman,” a character tied to drug trafficking and crime. The film was released on April 17, 2020.
