"The Old Guard 2" Flops on Netflix: A Disjointed Sequel That Forgets Its Roots

Remember "The Old Guard"? Released in the depths of July 2020, it was a welcome escape during the pandemic's peak, a Netflix action flick that felt surprisingly substantial amidst a sea of forgettable streaming content. Starring Charlize Theron, boasting international locales, and setting up a clear path for future installments, it quickly became one of Netflix's biggest launches, offering a much-needed dose of big-screen escapism when the world felt too small.

Yet, like many Netflix successes, its cultural footprint was fleeting. "The Old Guard" enjoyed its moment in the sun—a weekend, perhaps two—before fading from memory, consumed and forgotten with equal speed. So, a sequel felt inevitable but also, frankly, unnecessary. Though greenlit in early 2021 and entering production in 2022, "The Old Guard 2" has finally limped onto our screens after a painful three-year wait. And it shows. This follow-up not only bears the scars of a troubled post-production but is also weakened by the vast chasm of time since its predecessor. It's telling that Netflix has had to enlist its stars to recap the first film, as most of us had already consigned it to the back of our minds.

This isn't your average straightforward action movie, either. "The Old Guard," based on Greg Rucka's comic series, comes with a dense mythology. To grasp what's even happening in this sequel, you might find yourself pulling up the original's Wikipedia plot summary—a clear sign that a "summer lark" shouldn't feel this much like homework.

The film's saving grace, if there is one, is Charlize Theron. It's a shame we don't see more of her, and often, when we do, it's not in the roles we truly wish for. Theron, who delivered one of the most compelling character studies of the 2010s in Jason Reitman's underrated "Young Adult," has lately opted for roles that feel less challenging, often "slumming it" in flimsy franchise fare. (Her last non-genre role was playing Megyn Kelly in 2019's questionable #MeToo flop "Bombshell," which some might even classify as horror.) She reprises her role as Andy, the once-immortal warrior who, as a refresher, became mortal in the first film—a detail that should inject suspense into her elaborate fight scenes, but alas. This time, an old comrade (Ngô Thanh Vân) resurfaces after centuries of punishment, partnering with a humanity-hating immortal (Uma Thurman), forcing Andy and her team back into action.

Clocking in at under 97 minutes (excluding credits)—significantly shorter than the 125-minute original—the runtime might seem like a blessing in an era of bloated films. However, "The Old Guard 2" feels like a panicked rush to conclude, poorly developed and confusingly plotted. It's a swift, savage franchise-killer. Coming on the heels of last week's "M3GAN 2.0," which bombed after a 2.5-year gap, this film serves as a stark reminder to studios: speed and simplicity are paramount for sequels in our current attention economy, where films no longer command the same media presence they once did. In the time it took to churn out this sequel, it seems those involved have forgotten what made the original work. The replacement of director Gina Prince-Bythewood with Victoria Mahoney has led to a noticeable drop in the effectiveness of the action sequences, and disappointingly, the original's rather groundbreaking queerness has been almost entirely scrubbed. The first film featured a surprising, tender kiss between immortal lovers played by Marwan Kenzari and Luca Marinelli; here, their foreheads briefly touch instead. There's also a puzzling ambiguity regarding the relationship between Andy and her one-time partner, who are gay in the comics but are presented as, ahem, "longtime companions" in the film—an amusingly abrupt end to Pride month, indeed.

Theron consistently delivers, even when the script doesn't demand it, but "The Old Guard 2" is a waste of her talent, as well as that of a returning Chiwetel Ejiofor. Even Uma Thurman, who has moments of slithering fun as the villain, is used so sparingly it feels like a cameo. Her character is set up for a larger role in a third film, but here's the snag: there's been no official confirmation of "The Old Guard 3." This baffling cliffhanger ending might shock viewers, as the entire film feels shoddily unfinished, leaving not just B-plot threads dangling but the entire narrative incomplete. It's a truly heinous decision that risks turning the series into the next "Divergent," a franchise forever incomplete due to a canceled fourth film. Perhaps, in this case, that might be for the best.

"The Old Guard 2" is now available on Netflix.