Since The Previous Guard 2 is the most recent of 2025 Netflix releases to achieve No. 1 on the streaming service’s high film record, it’s time to speak about that cliffhanger ending, and what it might imply for a attainable sequel, isn’t it? CinemaBlend obtained an opportunity to speak to director Victoria Mahoney about how the motion film leaves its characters, and the way it was determined to depart issues open for the story to proceed.
The primary The Previous Guard film introduced us some much-needed summer time motion within the 12 months 2020 when theaters had been closed. After Gina Prince-Bythewood handed off the director duties to Victoria Mahoney, who additionally served as second-unit director on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, The Previous Guard 2 is lastly right here 5 years after the unique to catch us up on the lives of Andy and her fellow immortal mates, in addition to a brand new enemy within the kind Uma Thurman’s Discord. However what does the ending imply for all the principle characters and the way forward for the franchise?
What Occurs At The Finish Of The Previous Guard 2?
The third act of The Previous Guard 2 has Charlize Theron’s mullet-wearing Andy main her workforce to avoid wasting hundreds of thousands by disarming a set of bombs set off by Discord and Veronica Ngô’s Quỳnh. Within the course of, Matthias Schoenaerts’ Booker sacrifices his immortality to present to Andy, simply earlier than the newly-mortal man finally ends up dying whereas combating off some guards. KiKi Layne’s Nile, who we discover out on this movie has the ability to make different immortals mortal by injuring them, strikes Quynh (making her mortal) earlier than Discord captures Nile and different members of the Previous Guard.
Andy and Discord participate in a combat the place we study that Discord can also be now not immortal and desperately needs to regain it. She plans to make use of Nile’s powers to strip her workforce (and all different immortals) of their everlasting lives so she will have hers once more. Andy is ready to come out of the combat with Discord and reunite with Quynh earlier than the film ends on a cliffhanger of the pair charging into battle facet by facet – reconciled after over 500 years. Once I requested Victoria Mahoney about leaving issues the place she did, right here’s what she needed to say:
Nile, Booker, Joe, Nikki, Copley, and Tuah are all, who is aware of the place [at the end], and that was enjoyable. I believe at one level I had a shot, I believe when the flooring had been being cleaned out as a result of I needed to verify Booker was gone additionally.
It feels like The Previous Guard 2 director and the filmmaking workforce undoubtedly needed to verify to depart audiences wanting extra with the ultimate moments of the sequel out there to stream with our Netflix subscription now. We don’t know if Discord will probably be profitable in her try to make use of the Previous Guard to change into immortal, however she’s very near conducting her purpose. Although Booker had a sprawling demise scene, Mahoney even made it some extent to depart some room for extra from his storyline ought to the subsequent film select to go there.
Why Andy And Quynh Are Working Collectively Once more At The Finish Of The Previous Guard 2
Throughout our interview, I used to be definitely curious in regards to the particular resolution to have Andy and Quynh reconcile on the very finish of the film, and what Mahoney’s intentions had been there after Quynh initially may be very offended with Andy. Right here’s what she needed to say:
The cliffhanger and the best way that it’s was a gaggle resolution. We had clearly completely different ideas and completely different discussions alongside the best way. And, Skydance propelled the want for, not that it was lighthearted, however, hopeful I wish to say. I do not wanna put phrases of their mouth as a result of it was particular and it helped navigate us in direction of this ending.
Now this makes a whole lot of sense. The character of Quynh is a reasonably darkish one contemplating she has skilled demise after demise throughout 500 years earlier than she was lastly fished out of the water by Discord. Whereas the top of the film leaves a whole lot of characters in a distressing place, Mahoney actually needed there to be some levity for Quynh and Andy. As she defined:
I actually beloved and needed Quỳnh coming again, as a result of I felt like we have returned her to the film…. And all these tragic issues occur and it is like, however the viewers is gonna say, ‘Nicely what you introduced her again for all this horrible shit? And, in a century that she does not even know what a mobile phone is. Now, she’s simply misplaced wandering the earth by herself? So, the concept her existence within the movie in any respect would equate to those two from means again are gonna go save the day. I discover that actually thrilling.
Quỳnh awoke extremely disenchanted in Andy for not in search of her longer than she did, however by the top of The Previous Guard 2, it appears she begins to comprehend that it’s higher to spend her days with somebody she loves relatively than maintain a grudge. However the reconciliation wasn’t with out some miscommunication and soreness from the pair. I do need to marvel if one other film might finish with extra tragedy between the pair contemplating Quynh is now not immortal and Andy is. It will be diabolical if Discord killed her in entrance of Andy, however I wouldn’t put it previous the villain.
Are There Plans For The Previous Guard 3?
Now, The Previous Guard 2 is predicated on the comedian e book sequence by Greg Rucka, who additionally wrote the script for this film. The comedian e book story is advised throughout 16 points, so there’s undoubtedly extra to inform on his finish. However as Mahoney advised us, as a director, she didn’t finish The Previous Guard 2 with specifics of the subsequent film in thoughts – herself anyway. In her phrases:
I will not be there within the third movie. I am on different tasks and stuff. So, I do not know what they’re gonna do. I do not know what is going on subsequent, however I did wish to assist arrange for whoever comes subsequent [and] the opportunity of no matter they wanna do.
That’d probably be a query for screenwriter Greg Rucka, however Mahoney might inform us for positive that she wouldn’t be helming the subsequent installment herself. I do marvel, after the underwhelming vital response for The Previous Guard 2 (together with a low viewers rating on Rotten Tomatoes), if we’ll get one other film in any respect, however I don’t think about the filmmakers would arrange a cliffhanger if they don’t seem to be ready to ship on one other film.
I think about whether or not it will get the greenlight could possibly be affected by how streaming numbers do in coming weeks! So far as Mahoney’s involvement goes, she boarded The Previous Guard 2 in 2021 and initially filmed the film in 2022 earlier than reshoots came about in late 2024, so it’s definitely comprehensible she’d wish to spend her time on different artistic endeavors. We’ll maintain you up to date right here on CinemaBlend as we hear about any developments.