The Old Guard 2 Review: Charlize Theron Returns in a Stylish, If Slightly Forgettable, Sequel

The Old Guard

Directed by: Victoria Mahoney

Written by: Greg Rucka, Sarah L. Walker

Starring: Charlize Theron, Uma Thurman, Kiki Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Veronica Ngo

Release Date: July 2, 2025

Rating: ★★★½ (3.5 out of 5)

An Ominous Return From the Depths

The Old Guard 2 opens with storm clouds and rising tension. On a rusted cargo ship drifting through a nameless sea, two men haul something ominous from the water. It’s shaped like a coffin, encrusted in barnacles—an Iron Maiden, the ancient torture device. A pair of leather boots approaches. The camera pans up. It’s Uma Thurman.

The big twist here? Uma Thurman is now part of The Old Guard universe. Her character, revealed later as the villainous Discord, is central to this new story. And while her appearance may thrill depending on your love for Thurman, the real shock comes when the Iron Maiden is opened. Inside is Quynh, a character seen only briefly in the 2020 original.

If you remember the first film well, you’ll recall Quynh (played by Veronica Ngo) was a fellow immortal, doomed to centuries of torment. Trapped in an Iron Maiden and cast into the ocean, her fate became a haunting story in the original. She appeared in the final moments of The Old Guard at the apartment of Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts), setting up this sequel.

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Visual Flair and Immediate Intrigue

Even if you don’t recall every detail of the original, The Old Guard 2 is visually compelling and narratively engaging from the start. The windswept deck, the grey skies, the rust, the water, and the eerie, slow reveal of the Iron Maiden—all gorgeously realized. Director Victoria Mahoney delivers style, and Uma Thurman, as always, commands the screen.

What we get is a double mystery: Who exactly is Discord? And what does Quynh want now that she’s back? The story uses these questions to pull us into a new arc while keeping connections to the original strong enough that you’re not totally lost—even if your memory is fuzzy.

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The Team Reassembles—With a Few Twists

The action picks up as the core team of immortals regroups. Charlize Theron’s Andy is still leading, but now, she’s no longer immortal. This new vulnerability adds tension to her scenes and gives Theron more dramatic weight to play with.

Kiki Layne’s Nile is still adjusting to her immortality, and Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Copley now plays an active role as the team’s liaison to the intelligence world. There’s also a new development regarding Nile’s abilities, but I won’t spoil it here—it’s a fun twist that deepens her character arc.

The series’ emotional core, especially Andy’s grief over her long-lost lover, remains central. The LGBTQ+ themes introduced in the first film are again present, including the touching romance between Joe and Nicky, two immortal warriors who have been in love for centuries.

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A Sequel With Purpose (Even If the Ending Wobbles)

The middle act of The Old Guard 2 is strong, filled with compelling fight choreography, globe-trotting intrigue, and more screen time for the core cast. Theron remains a magnetic presence, grounding the more outlandish comic-book elements in emotional realism. Her chemistry with Layne, Schoenaerts, and Ngo helps bind the film’s many moving parts.

However, the movie stumbles slightly in the final act. While much of the film builds toward a grand confrontation, the ending feels less like a conclusion and more like a setup for The Old Guard 3. That’s not inherently bad—but it does lessen the impact of the current installment’s climax.

Still, for all its minor flaws, The Old Guard 2 succeeds at what it sets out to do: expand the mythology, deepen the characters, and deliver a fun, stylish action film that’s easy to enjoy—even if you can’t quite remember all the details of the first one.

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Final Verdict: Watchable, Stylish, and Worth Your Time

Even though I barely remembered the first Old Guard and had to look up a few things, I found myself quickly pulled back into the world. The Old Guard 2 is sleek, smartly directed, and anchored by a strong Charlize Theron performance.

You might forget it after the credits roll, but you’ll enjoy the ride while it lasts—and I’ll be there for part three.

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