The Old Guard 2’s Cast & Director on “Effortless” Action & Humanity in Immortality: “A Disciple of Highlander”

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For Immortals who’ve lived for centuries, six months might seem insignificant, but a considerable transformation is evident in Andy and the cast of The Old Guard 2. As a follow-up to the 2020 action sensation, which was adapted from the Image Comics series by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández, the story finds Charlize Theron’s character, Andromache “Andy” of Scythia, and her immortal companions grappling with a fresh danger – one of their own.

In a turn of events, the initial Immortal, Discord (portrayed by Uma Thurman), is setting her gaze upon them, and she’s unearthing something disturbing from their history.

The Old Guard 2 reunites beloved characters & introduces new Immortal faces

As the film unfolds, my gaming crew – Andy, Nicky (Luca Marinelli), Joe (Marwan Kenzari), and the fresh Immortal, Nile (Kiki Layne) – are still on missions. However, this time we’ve got a new ally: Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Copley, who was once an adversary in the previous game but later saw the light and supported us Immortals. This time, he’s standing alongside us in the battlefield.

Ejiofor confessed, “In the beginning, I was quite envious of all the exciting action scenes everyone else got to perform,” he shared with SYFY WIRE. He was thrilled to see Copley deeply involved in the sequel. “Sometimes, he requires a gentle nudge to remind him that he’s not an Immortal. It seems like he believes it sometimes. I suppose they might have rubbed off on him.

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The revival comic book series has sparked curiosity among readers and viewers alike with its unique blend of science fiction and horror elements. Let us delve deeper into the intriguing concept behind the new SYFY show, Revival, and explore why it was initially intended as a movie but ultimately found success on television.

To begin with, have you ever pondered over what a ‘Reviver’ is? The revival series introduces an interesting undead twist that sets it apart from other horror productions. In the world of Revival, when someone dies, they can be brought back to life using a mysterious process called “reviving.” This raises many questions about the moral and ethical implications of this miraculous procedure.

The original plan for Revival was to develop it into a movie, but after careful consideration, the creative team behind the project decided that it would work best as a TV series. The extended format allowed them to delve deeper into the lives of the characters and explore the complexities of the reviving process in greater detail.

SYFY’s decision to adapt Revival for television was a smart move, given its potential to captivate audiences with its gripping storylines, thought-provoking themes, and suspenseful horror elements. If you haven’t already, make sure to tune in and discover the secrets of Revival on SYFY!

This time, there’s a new development: one team member is absent due to a harsh punishment. In the previous film, Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts) was banished for a full century because he betrayed his Immortal comrades by collaborating with them. Nicky isn’t pleased about this situation, according to Marinelli.

Marinelli stated, “He seems to be a wolf who values unity and mutual prosperity among his pack. Perhaps it’s because he fears the thought of losing Nicky – a prospect that he finds intolerable.

In simpler terms, among their group, Nile – who is the youngest – is undergoing changes as well and is rapidly grasping the requirements to become Immortal. This understanding, as Layne mentioned, could potentially lead to issues now that Discord has emerged.

According to Layne, she’s gaining a bit more knowledge about that particular location and growing more comfortable as part of the team. However, there are still areas where she lacks understanding, which the second movie clearly demonstrates. It emphasizes her newcomer status and underscores how much more she needs to learn about this place, as well as the potential for some individuals to exploit her lack of experience.

In the sequel, it’s not just Discord who has been unveiled as an Immortal; fortunately for Andy and their companions, the second revelation turns out to be an ally instead.

In a different phrasing, Henry Golding portrays Tuah, an immortal character who is older than Andy and has deliberately avoided public attention for countless centuries. Instead, he prefers to work as a historian, secretly chronicling the adventures of all immortals across various eras.

As a gamer, I found myself immersed in a role where my character had been closely connected with these other characters, almost like a silent partner throughout their journey. Though I couldn’t explicitly show that bond, it was deep-rooted and profound. My character was more of a confidant, someone they could lean on when things got tough, offering support from afar. In a way, he functioned as a counselor or advisor, guiding them through their experiences.

There’s emotion in The Old Guard 2‘s “every punch and kick”

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In The Old Guard 2, Tuah doesn’t find the other Immortals relaxing on a couch and confiding in him as one might expect in a traditional therapy setting. However, if there was an action movie franchise where emotional exploration would be relevant, this series could certainly be it. Both the sequel and the original films are high-octane action blockbusters, yet they delve deeply into the complexities of immortality. What must it feel like to live for centuries, bearing the weight of history and watching those you care about pass away?

As Victoria Mahoney, the director of The Old Guard 2, I’d say these films stand out for their innovative take on the concept they explore.

Speaking about it, Mahoney confessed, “I follow the teachings of ‘Highlander.’ Incredible! I wholeheartedly agree that there can be only one.” Rewatching it, he finds it rather corny. However, he feels no other work has approached immortality as profoundly and honestly as ‘The Old Guard’ does.

In an interview, Ejiofor mentioned that while his character is human, the broader themes are still evident within the action scenes themselves.

He clarified that the next step should be an extension of the ongoing discussion. The choices of tools they use in their conflicts, the nature of their confrontations, and the background that shapes this interaction are all intertwined with the narratives of their lengthy pasts and the complexities of their shared experiences.

At a casual glance, Mahoney’s filmography may not appear to be filled with high-octane action, yet she has ample experience in that realm, having directed significant episodes of HBO’s Lovecraft Country and working on the second unit for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Remarkably, even a project as massive as The Old Guard 2 felt manageable to her due to the scale of her past work. As she shared, she has been patiently waiting for an opportunity to lead a major action blockbuster. With this endeavor, she becomes the second woman to direct a film in this franchise, following Gina Prince-Bythewood’s work on the 2020 release.

Mahoney proposed, “Perhaps the female director contributed to the intense emotions portrayed in each fight sequence?” This is an intuitive aspect of her style, making every blow and strike feel charged with emotion.

Mahoney pointed out that The Old Guard stands out because it doesn’t depict its protagonists as typical superheroes who seem detached from the audience, instead the actors bring their characters closer to us in a realistic manner which is a significant factor contributing to the film’s success.

Layne mentioned that our emphasis isn’t on portraying immortals, but rather immortal characters who are deeply human. This is something we all grasped and emphasized in our performances. I believe this focus on the human side of the characters is why people connect so strongly with the films.

In a playful yet sincere manner, Marinelli presented an effective illustration of the human-like qualities of these seemingly supernatural figures.

He chuckled and added, “Even they require toilet paper, just like us. And when they have early mornings, they use an alarm clock too. In essence, their routines aren’t much unlike ours.

The Old Guard 2 is now available to stream.

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2025-07-02 19:47