The Old Guard 2 is now available for streaming on Netflix, and for those who have watched it, it clearly sets the stage for a potential follow-up, The Old Guard 3. However, despite the anticipation, Charlize Theron has shared insights with The Hollywood Reporter that suggest the continuation of this franchise is not a certainty. This uncertainty stems from the unpredictable nature of the film industry, where decisions can often hinge on various factors beyond the creative team’s control.
When Theron was queried about her level of confidence regarding the likelihood of The Old Guard 3 getting the green light from Netflix, she candidly responded, “Oh, never confident, no. One thing I’ve learned in this business is that there are no guarantees, and it’s really gracious of [Netflix] to not have pushed us into another direction.“ This quote reflects the unpredictable dynamics of the film industry where even successful projects can face hurdles in further development.
Theron elaborated on her perspective, stating, “This was always where we wanted to land the film, and it’s also very reminiscent of the first one. We never ended the first one thinking we were going to do a second, but that was just how it happened to be. So we treated this one exactly the same, but I’m being completely honest when I say that we have absolutely no idea what that [third film] would even look like.“ This emphasizes the organic development of the story and the uncertainty surrounding its future direction.
If The Old Guard 3 does indeed progress, one notable absence will be that of director Victoria Mahoney. She remarked, “I’m not in the room. I’m not in that discussion of whether there will be another or not, and this—because, as you mentioned, the duration of this film took me from other projects I have, so I am legally obliged to some other projects,” she said. “So, I will be for the next six, seven years, on some other jobs. And so someone else will take that mantle in a wonderful, exciting way, and I don’t know what they’re gonna do, but I know it’ll be great, and it’ll be fun, and it will be with great regard and care for the audience, and I will be eagerly awaiting it.“ Mahoney’s comments reveal her commitment to her current projects while expressing optimism for whoever may take over the directorial responsibilities.
Our own Alex Maidy offered a mixed review of the film, particularly highlighting the limited screen time between Theron and co-star Uma Thurman, who portrays the antagonist. He stated, “Thurman spends most of her time walking and talking rather than fighting, a bait-and-switch for those waiting to see the Kill Bill star again wielding a sword on screen,” Maidy wrote. “Thurman and Theron only share about ten minutes of screen time, and their fight, which was meant to be an epic sequence, feels overly choreographed and underwhelming. The Old Guard 2 runs lean, clocking in at about 100 minutes, but none of the fights have the same intensity as the first movie.” For a more in-depth exploration, you can read the rest of his review right here.
Are you excited to see The Old Guard 3 come to fruition?
