THE OLD GUARD 2 (2025)

Andy (Charlize Theron) and her team of immortal mercenaries return to fight, ponder the meaning of immortality, and find new foes in The Old Guard 2. But this sequel to the 2020 Netflix action hit is an underwritten if overcomplicated mix of philosophy and stunt sequences as The Old Guard ponders who wants to live forever.

When Discord (Uma Thurman) pulls Quỳnh (Vân Veronica Ngô ) from the sea—as seen in a post-credits scene from the previous movie—a new team of immortals are out for revenge, and they don’t forgive Andy and co. for abandoning them all those years ago. It’s immortal vs immortal as Discord believes Andy should stop using her superhero power to meddle with humanity.

Alongside Andy, Nile (KiKi Layne), Joe (Marwan Kenzari), Nicky (Luca Marinelli), and James Booker (Chiwetel Ejiofor) return as the eternal warriors. We’re reunited with the team on a bombastic mission, racing cars through streets, smashing through windows, and playing with katana swords. Unfortunately, this opening scene’s as good as The Old Guard 2 gets, with cleverly choreographed stunts, gruesome tricks from a combat team who can’t die, and a thrilling car chase. Sadly, it sets expectations too high.

When Nile starts to dream about Discord killing a man in a library, Andy is forced to seek out an immortal who hoped not to be found. This introduces us to Tuah (Henry Golding), an old friend who collects the history of The Old Guard in his secret library.

The Old Guard 2 closely follows on from the events of the previous film, as everything set up there is now addressed. Nile’s embraced her immortality and now joined the team, Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts) is exiled for his betrayal, and Andy’s faced with mortality. Fans will certainly be pleased the dangling plot strands aren’t ignored by the sequel.

Andy’s mortality is a big theme here. At the end of The Old Guard, the three-centuries-old warrior noticed she’s not healing as quickly as she should and now finds freedom in mortality, as the other team members ponder if they’re sad or jealous of Andy’s new status. When she and Tuah theorise what could have caused her mortality, the other members of the team have to wonder if they still want to live forever. Some of the best scenes in this sequel are the quieter moments when the characters face the realities of immortality. It’s in these philosophical musings that the cast can engage with the material, finding nuances amongst the dynamics of their characters.

By giving these characters the possibility of mortality and the idea that they’re not indestructible, the action sequences become more perilous and raise the stakes. The first film suffered from audiences knowing that no matter how many times the team was stabbed, shot, and thrown about, they would always heal again.

The Old Guard 2 has a loaded ensemble cast, but the writing fails to understand how to use them all. Adding new actors to the cast and expanding the lore only gives the script more things to fail to balance. Written by Sarah L. Walker and Greg Rucka, the latter of whom also co-created the original comic-book with Leandro Fernández, the pacing frequently struggles. There are long sections where it seems like nothing is happening, and then suddenly, everything is happening.

Golding’s Tuah is an excellent addition, acting as a guide for the audience, helping us understand the existing lore and adding to it. The actor brings a grounded empathy to the more subdued role, a slice of calm amongst the group of mercenaries. Tuah’s addition allows Rucka to further flesh out the world of The Old Guard.

Charlize Theron reins in her star power for a rather one-dimensional performance. She can adequately perform the stunt work and the emotional impact of a woman losing her immortality, but it’s just that—adequate. You can’t help but feel like Theron’s going through the motions instead of bringing real heart to the part. There’s one especially emotional reunion where Theron’s expression simply doesn’t even move.

Ejiofor is sidelined as the professional exposition giver, standing near screens and explaining very carefully what is about to happen. One of the finest British actors of recent years, he delivers every line like a Shakespearean sonnet, but it’s frustrating he’s not given more to do here. He’s mostly sidelined from the action, acting purely as the designated explainer of things.

Fans of the first film and the dynamic between the group will feel disappointed at how underused Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, and Matthias Schoenaerts are. Keeping the group predominantly separated wastes their chemistry, which was a highlight before. The scenes where the team is in the same room are a delight, and there is a real sense that these people have known each other for centuries.

Discord’s role is expanded from the original comics, brought to life by a scenery-chewing Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction). Her evil mastermind plans are thinly written, and the dialogue is made for those watching on a second screen. Her intentions are spelt out in lengthy, predictable dialogues in less than subtle settings. This film’s baddie is less a realised character and more a paint-by-numbers villain we have all seen before.

Vân Veronica Ngô gets a little more to do as Quỳnh, an immortal figure who was committed to a life of purgatory in a cement coffin. She’s suitably angry at being trapped in a constant cycle of life and death and is a far more interesting villain than Discord. Her relationship and homoerotic tension with Andy are the heart of this film. It’s a shame so many of their tender scenes are interrupted by unnecessary fight sequences.

Victoria Mahoney (Yelling to the Sky) takes over directing duties in the sequel from Gina Prince-Bythewood, and it’s noticeable in the way The Old Guard 2 looks. The film is flat and unmemorable, even when on location amidst stunning backdrops. Stunt work can be beautiful when shot right, as the John Wick movies have proved, but Mahoney fails to make this anything more than attractive people hitting each other.

The stunt sequences will still likely please most action fans, even if they aren’t shot in a particularly interesting way. The problem is that the screenplay doesn’t always know where to place them appropriately. The Old Guard 2 would have benefited from letting the characters breathe rather than needing to intercut human moments with violence. A little character development would have made the final showdown more impactful and helped the audience actually care.

The Old Guard franchise must be confident of a third instalment. The build-up of the last act is almost pointless when you realise it’s just setting up another sequel, ending on sadly flat note only concerned with setting up a sequel than resolving the story. The last half-hour had the potential to be a thrilling raid sequence, but the lack of finality and conclusion will leave audiences frustrated. The Old Guard 2 is ultimately less of a sequel and more like a protracted set-up for The Old Guard 3.

USA | 2025 | 107 MINUTES | 2.39:1 | COLOUR | ENGLISH

Cast & Crew

director: Victoria Mahoney.
writers: Greg Rucka & Sarah L. Walker (story by Greg Rucka, based on the comic-book by Greg Rucka & Leandro Fernández).
starring: Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Matthias Schoenaerts, Vân Veronica Ngô, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Uma Thurman & Henry Golding.