The Real Reason The Old Guard 2 Took 5 Years To Hit Netflix Will Shock You

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Approximately five years later, “The Old Guard 2” has finally arrived, and director Victoria Mahoney has shared her justification for the delay in producing the sequel. The latest Netflix blockbuster once more features Charlize Theron as she leads a group of immortal fighters against malevolent forces. The original “Old Guard” film was one of the initial successes on streaming platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic, premiering in July 2020 to favorable reviews and announcing a sequel almost instantly. However, for various reasons, the second installment of this series took some time to come out.

In a chat with TopMob, director Victoria Mahoney explained the reason behind the delay in releasing The Old Guard 2, which finally hit Netflix on July 2, 2025 – over five years following the initial film. It appears that the writers’ and actors’ strikes in Hollywood in 2023 were primarily responsible for this considerable time gap between the two films of the Old Guard series. The repercussions of this labor action are still being experienced throughout the industry.

When queried regarding the difference in release dates for the two movies, Mahoney proposed that, similar to numerous films entering production during the same period as The Old Guard 2 , the movie was “affected” or “impacted” by the 2023 Hollywood strikes.

The release date of the movie was delayed, to some extent, by approximately a year, due to the ongoing resource battle that ensued following the widely publicized labor disagreement.

In my perspective as a movie reviewer, it seems that our production found itself in a familiar predicament, much like our ‘F1’ colleagues. Interestingly, Graham Kelly, who collaborated with us on ‘The Old Guard 2,’ also worked on ‘F1.’ We were quite close, almost neck and neck in terms of filming schedules. However, they went ahead while we got entangled in the industry-wide strike. For many of us, it was a year of stagnation, but for others in specific productions, it stretched to 18 months.

She mentioned that the five-year duration encompassed both “the time spent on writing it [and] the time needed for script approval,” as well as various other aspects essential for setting a movie in motion, which she referred to as “numerous practical matters that arose during the process.

In actuality, there were several factors that contributed to its development. These included the five years it took to write the script, getting it approved, and all the other practical aspects involved in bringing a movie to life and eventually to viewers.

In another part of the interview, Mahoney was asked about the progression of the franchise during the production of the second film, with special emphasis given to “[raising] content quality:”]

I’m passionate about any job I take because I strive to enhance what’s being presented. If a script or project doesn’t inspire me, I shouldn’t be involved… When a script captivates me, it’s usually because I can visualize the end result in my mind as if I’m already there. This is something that comes naturally to me and is an integral part of my process. I take on jobs when I believe that my skills and personal experiences can add value and elevate the material.

As a film enthusiast, I’d put it this way: “When it comes to The Old Guard 2, I aimed to cultivate and magnify every captivating element we had. We wanted to nurture those seeds of excellence into something even more profound.

In my perspective, I was eager to build upon the ideas introduced by both Gina and Greg in the initial film, much like nurturing a seed into a flourishing plant. This is how I envisioned communication – taking what we established earlier, what I strive for, and what I aspire for us to achieve, and letting it blossom further. I firmly believe that this approach encapsulates the essence of a sequel; otherwise, I question its purpose. To me, repeating the same ideas without growth is a recipe for audience discontent, and as an audience member myself, I would feel similarly frustrated.

In “The Old Guard 2,” Charlize Theron reprises her role as Andromache (or “Andy”), the head of a band of immortal warriors. This time, they confront a fresh danger: Discord, an immortal believed to be dead, portrayed by Uma Thurman, and her apprentice Quỳnh (Vân Veronica Ngô). This new action flick is now available on Netflix, debuting on July 2. Critical reception for the second installment has been somewhat mixed, with a rating of 32% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Will Fans Have To Wait Just as Long For The Old Guard 3?

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but wonder after the five-year gap between The Old Guard and its sequel, if the wait for The Old Guard 3 might be just as prolonged.

To begin with, it’s important to note that as of now, there’s no official announcement about a third film in the Netflix superhero series. In fact, it took until January 2021 for The Old Guard 2 to be officially confirmed (over six months after the first movie was released), so fans might have to wait longer to learn if a third movie is even in production.

Director Victoria Mahoney shared that she won’t return for future movies in this series and hasn’t taken part in any early discussions, which suggests that Netflix has yet to initiate preliminary talks regarding a potential final film in the trilogy.

Fortunately, however, it appears that The Old Guard 3 might have the luxury of taking its time in production, yet potentially release sooner than the sequel did.

The main challenge that “The Old Guard 2” encountered was the halt of film productions just as they were ready to begin, due to the shutdown in the entertainment industry. However, with negotiations completed between studios, writers, and actors in Hollywood, it seems unlikely that there will be any work stoppages imminently.

This implies that the number of possible outside factors that might postpone a third film has decreased by one compared to before, which is an encouraging signal for fans anxiously waiting for more.

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2025-07-03 06:35