Netflix really cut loose with the summer blockbusters last year, and the result was some of the highest viewer totals in the streamer’s history. And one of the biggest projects to emerge from that was The Old Guard, the Charlize Theron/Kiki Layne action flick about a race of immortals fighting to survive against one of their own. While it was inevitable that a sequel would happen, it is now official but without original director Gina Prince-Bythewood.
Deadline reports The Old Guard 2 will now be directed by Victoria Mahoney, who you may have heard of for being the first Black woman director to work on the Star Wars franchise. She worked second-unit on The Rise of Skywalker and has used that experience to take on other projects for herself. This is by far the biggest.
The Old Guard sequel will see the return of Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Veronica Ngo, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. It’s unclear where the story goes, and if it will be an adaptation of a specific story from comic creators Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández, or something entirely new.
If you listened to my interview with Prince-Bythewood you know how deep her feelings run for The Old Guard, which makes her decision not to return pretty surprising. But she does intend to stay on in a producer capacity…
“I love ‘The Old Guard’ and the story and characters I was honored to put into the world. It was exciting to disrupt the genre,” said Prince-Bythewood. “I have decided not to direct the sequel, but will stay on as a producer. I leave our franchise in good hands as my girl Vic Mahoney takes on this next chapter.”
“Genuinely blown backwards by the collective levels of talent, skill, and savvy that went into carving ‘The Old Guard,’” Mahoney added. “I must’ve watched it over a hundred times, and as such, cannot communicate the true measure of my excitement–being invited on ‘The Old Guard’ journey alongside ferocious badasses. Ever eager to continue pushing the genre for action-loving audiences. Warmly tipping my hat to the world Gina, Charlize, Rucka, Fernández, Skydance, Netflix, Marc Evans Productions, Denver & Delilah Films and the entire Team daringly put forward.”
Mahoney has already signed on to direct a new TV series from Ava DuVernay, plus the action flicks Kill Them All and Shadow Force. However, something like The Old Guard 2 could jump the line ahead of them.
