In 2020, Netflix had an action “hit” with “The Old Guard,” starring Charlize Theron and Matthias Schoenaerts as a covert team of immortal mercenaries who must fight to keep their identity a secret.
An ‘Old Guard’ sequel has been filmed — production wrapped in August 2022 — but it’s remained dubiously absent from the Netflix calendar. What’s taking so long for it to be released?
What we know for certain is that reshoots were conducted on the film in October 2024 (via What’s on Netflix), and I can now report that more additional photography is being planned on the film, and they’re trying to make it happen in early summer, which means that we won’t be getting to see this one anytime soon.
Theron recently told Variety that “post-production got shut down” by Netflix and blamed recent leadership changes at the streamer for the delays. What I find quite baffling is the reasons given by Theron. I never heard of leadership changes delaying an already-shot film, especially if it’s deep in the editing stages.
Theron did confirm that the film would eventually be released, although no exact date was given, and added that she loves the finished product.
Will “The Old Guard 2” ever see the light of day? Some have speculated that it would be entirely scrapped by Netflix, much like what they did with Halle Berry’s “The Mothership”? I don’t think that will happen, especially with a budget that is said to be well over $140M now.
The original film was directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. It was a semi-watchable affair, an above-average release as far as Netflix action movies go. Nothing more, nothing less. However, Prince-Bythewood has been replaced in the sequel by director Victoria Mahoney whose only other directing credit is 2011’s ill-received “Yelling to the Sky.”
The short version: "Woman Unknown" was a compromise. The jury deadlocked over "Possible Love" and "NAZA," not able to com to terms, fell back on their #3, May el-Toukhy's film.