Pictures via Netflix
Based on the Image comic book series from author Greg Rucka & artist Leandro Fernandez, The Old Guard 2 is the long-awaited sequel to its 2020 predecessor, The Old Guard, released in July of that year. Netflix claimed the original film to be the most popular title of the summer quarter, with 78 million households tuning in to watch in the first four weeks on the platform.
So why did it take so long for this popular hit to get its sequel? Announced officially in August 2021, The Old Guard 2 seemed to be on track to get back soon, with star/producer Charlize Theron disclosing months earlier in an interview with Variety that the script was already completed.
However, after a lengthy pre-production stage, the cameras started rolling almost a year later in June 2022 and wrapped in September 2023. One year later, there would be additional shooting scheduled for the film lasting a couple weeks.
Finally, the supportive fans who waited patiently for so long (we’re not immortal, you know!) would get their new adventure in July 2025.
Based on the 2nd Rucka written Old Guard book “Force Multiplied” with a script by Rucka & Australian screenwriter Sarah L. Walker, we pick up six months after the events of the first film with the updated crew – Andy aka Andromache (Theron), Nile (Kiki Layne), Joe (Marwan Kenzari), Nicky (Luca Marinelli), & ex-CIA/former villain accomplice Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) – still running mercenary operations to save mankind from extinction, even with Andy still grappling with her newfound mortality discovered at the end of the original film.
Also from the finale of the original, we’re presented with two major events that present themselves as the crux of the opposition in the sequel: former crew member and fellow immortal Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts) was sent into exile from the group after his betrayal & Andromache’s longtime immortal companion Quynh (Veronica Ngo) has been saved from centuries in an Iron Maiden at the bottom of the ocean.
Weaponizing Quynh’s thirst for revenge upon the mortals that imprisoned her in a watery grave & Andromache who failed to find her after all this time, a mysterious threat named Discord (played by Kill Bill action queen Uma Thurman) emerges with plans to give Quynh exactly what she wants with the resources and firepower to bring the world and its immortal protectors to their knees.
The Old Guard 2 (L-R) Henry Golding as Tuah and Charlize Theron as Andy. Cr. Eli Joshua Ade /NETFLIX
Helmed this time around by prestige TV director Victoria Mahoney, The Old Guard 2 feels bouncier than its predecessor from the start; released from the massive throat clearing of explaining their immortal backgrounds & character connections combined with a protagonist in Andromache whose life has come into sharper focus now that she can be taken out at any moment as a mortal. Each member of the crew seems to be well-defined and tightly knit with an individual sense of purpose. The first film’s dark, brooding, and self-serious tone has seemingly given way to a lighter sensibility, allowing the chemistry to thrive for long stretches of the sequel’s far shorter 100-minute runtime.
More importantly, the sequel has real stakes, a more powerful villain on the level of our heroes, & a personal connection with the long-awaited return of Quynh.
The first film was far more focused on bringing along a reluctant recruit in Nile, struggling with the gift and curse of immortality, & being hunted by mortals to be studied and exploited (with an over the top Harry Melling performance that didn’t work for me even as a fan of the first film). This film gets to iterate on those internal struggles and build on them with a mortal Andromache, a redemption arc with Booker, & an expansion of the immortal lore that allows a physical weakness to play into the active choices by every character who comes to learn about it. Add in a well-respected, legendary actress with a high profile background in action filmmaking in Uma Thurman to take on the new villain with a stronger sense of purpose, a more grounded approach to her fury, & a hold over someone incredibly important to Andy. That is a recipe for greater engagement and meaningful drama.
However, the toughest challenge for the film is not being a standalone entry. The success of the film heavily relies on the creation & execution of a 3rd film in the series. Every critique I can think of feels like the movie holding back the best for later. The story could have used more scenes with Andromache & Quynh, either in the present or a reaffirming flashback, that could have enhanced the sometimes struggling chemistry or the drama of the film’s climax, but the film kicks that down the road for a potential mission-critical team-up in Part 3. The story would have been better served with a true final battle between Andromache, Quynh, & Discord, but we were treated and ultimately teased with the battle in the film’s final moments before its inevitable cliffhanger ending. Netflix better be committed to this trilogy or else the legacy of this installment and the franchise as a whole will be tainted with wasted potential. With a 5-year gap between films, the creators are making a big bet that the enthusiasm for this installment will get them a green light to go for 3.
But in this moment, The Old Guard 2 will give fans of the first film exactly what they could have wanted over this half decade. The same quality direction (kudos to Mahoney for not missing a beat) and fight choreography as the critically well-regarded original, a better villain performance from Thurman, and story elements so enticing that they decided to make it a cliffhanger to force a Part 3. While the Andromache/Quynh relationship could use some refinement for the franchise’s success moving forward, we should all have faith in Charlize’s talent and the source material from Rucka to deliver the proper story conclusion we all deserve.
Watch The Old Guard 2 on Netflix If You Like
- The Old Guard
- Atomic Blonde
- Highlander
- Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2
MVP of The Old Guard 2
Uma Thurman as Discord
The Old Guard 2. Uma Thurman as Discord in The Old Guard 2. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
It feels good to see Uma Thurman swinging a blade again.
Her casting as the main villain in a female-led action film is brilliant. Thurman brings a level of prestige as an incredibly gifted actor of note for decades, while giving us the long-awaited return of the kickass version of herself that we didn’t know we needed.
While this award really hinges on a small amount of meaningful screen time, Thurman makes the most out of it, particularly with the rooftop standoff with Theron’s Andromache as they showcase their ability to launch into impassioned speeches while giving us the bloody battle we all craved since the trailer dropped. Hopefully, Netflix does the right thing and announces Part 3 to give us a more heightened rematch.
Five years in the making, The Old Guard 2 brings a fresh approach to a more self-serious franchise with higher stakes, expanded lore, & a stronger villain played by a legend in Thurman. Let’s get on that 3rd movie now, shall we?