Latest news with #KiKiLayne
Gizmodo
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘The Old Guard 2' Cast on Making a Sequel That Bleeds, Thinks, and Fights Harder
On July 2, Netflix and Skydance will finally unleash The Old Guard 2, the long-awaited sequel to the 2020 action hit starring Charlize Theron as an immortal warrior protecting humanity. Ahead of the release, io9 caught up with returning stars KiKi Layne, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Marwan Kenzari, as well as franchise newcomer Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians, Snake Eyes), to talk about stepping back into the brutal, secretive world of the Image Comics universe and what it took to bring its next chapter to life. Isaiah Colbert, io9: Nile's evolution from a wide-eyed recruit to a seasoned immortal takes center stage in this movie. What aspects of her growth—whether through the grit of her action sequences or the deepening bonds with her team—were the most rewarding for you to bring to life? KiKi Layne: For sure Nile's growth physically. The stunts I got to do, the choreography, having a weapon, that was really fun to push my physicality to new levels for the second film. That was definitely the highlight for me for Nile's journey this time around. io9: Joe and Nicky's bond continues to anchor the heart of this story. How did you and Luca Marinelli navigate the evolution of their dynamic, balancing their centuries-old intimacy with a renewed sense of purpose as they face the film's escalating threats together? Marwan Kenzari: To be honest with you, we are developing our friendship off-set. We're talking constantly. If [Marinelli] is in his trailer, I'll visit him. We'll sit and spend an hour or two together talking about so many different things and aspects of life that we, ultimately, automatically brought that [with us] when the camera's rolling. That's just a gift that we have. We don't have to pretend that we love each other. I genuinely love this man. That makes it a lot easier to do the job. io9: Since the first film, Copley has transformed from a reluctant ally to a mortal fighting shoulder to shoulder with immortals as an integral member of the crew. How did stepping into that more physically demanding role—while still carrying the weight of his humanity—challenge or deepen your performance this time around? Chiwetel Ejiofor: I enjoyed it. In the first one, I was a little bummed that I was standing on the edge of all the action. They got to get involved [and] have all the fun. I was really excited when I was reading the script, and it was like, 'Oh, Copley gets into this now?' That's great. He needs a tap on the shoulder sometimes—people tell him he's not immortal, too. I love the idea of him—not just in the technical sense—helping the team organize and deal with the operations using his skillset. The actual getting onto the field and really getting stuck in is a really great addition to Copley's character. io9: Tuah marks your entry into an ensemble stacked with action heavyweights. Coming off your lead role in Snake Eyes, you're no stranger to intense choreography, but how did you find your rhythm within this team? And were there any moments on set that reminded you just how physically demanding The Old Guard's world can be in comparison to G.I. Joe's? Henry Golding: I was a big fan of the first film. I think that opening sequence down in the kill room was phenomenal. It was action that we hadn't really seen. The design of it was so visceral. I knew we were going to bring back some of the choreography. Sadly, I didn't get as much as I'd love to, but what I did get was so much fun to be a part of. The great thing about The Old Guard is the balance. The real story is the human aspect of living as an immortal. The action is the consequence of the world around them. Finding that balance is crucial. It was absolutely fun to get stuck in. io9: This film has had a longer road to release than expected, with delays and reshoots delaying its timeline. In the face of those production challenges, what helped you all rally as a cast and crew to keep the energy and focus alive, and your connections to your characters? Ejiofor: Films take the time they take. As an actor and a cast, you're always excited to get involved. We're familiar with these characters now in a way where it's not easy, but it's okay to jump back in. We're always able to jump back into stuff, and I think everyone understands that making films is complex. Sometimes they take a little bit longer, and you've got to figure out how to do that, and that's great. io9: The combat in The Old Guard 2 aims to be more intense and personal. How did you all prepare for sequences this time around? Kenzari: As Chiwetel mentioned, it's a part of your muscle memory. The choreography that the stunt team comes up with, you go through them, and you get better at them—you increase speed. It's a fun part of the pre-production of a shooting day where, at the end of it, you just want to master the choreography as good as you can. That's the way we prepped part one, and that's the same way we worked on [part two]—it's just that the choreography is different and more than what we had in the first one. io9: If you could pit any iconic action movie stars against each other in an immortal vs. immortal fight like Charlize Theron and Uma Thurman, who would you like to see square off? Kenzari: Good question. Layne: Uma versus Charlize is pretty up there. Ejiofor: Atomic Blonde against Predator Arnie. That's what I'd like to see—hand to hand. Put the guns away. Kenzari: Predator Arnie is good. Golding: I like that. Kenzari: Skin on skin. Everyone: (laughs) Ejiofor: Damn. Golding: How do you beat that? Next question. Kenzari: Does Home Alone count as an actor? Everyone: (laughs) io9: It's been five years since fans first met the Guard. What do you each hope audiences take away from this chapter, not only to satisfy that long wait but to remind them why this story was worth holding onto? Kenzari: The whole mortality, immortality element is a huge highway in the arch of the storytelling in this one. I think that is the question, even with us in the last few days of interviews. It's the question that keeps coming back: What would you rather have [in] either one of these two? So much in the movie is about that fragile, sensitive aspect of people healing and not healing—dying and not being able to die—is something that the audience will think about after the movie finishes. Ejiofor: I think they're great characters, and I think that's what you'll remember and have missed—these really great characters and this incredible team. And there are things to think about. There are philosophical questions in there and deep emotional resonances with their history. There's a lot there. The Old Guard 2 premieres on Netflix July 2. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Look: Charlize Theron, Uma Thurman attend 'Old Guard 2' premiere
June 26 (UPI) -- Charlize Theron and Uma Thurman stepped out for the Los Angeles premiere of The Old Guard 2 ahead of the film's Netflix arrival July 2. The screening took place at the Tudum Theater Wednesday. Theron portrays the formerly immortal being Andromache of Scythia, aka Andy, who seeks to protect humans. The Monster actress, 49, wore a mesh bodysuit underneath a long, navy blue blazer. Thurman, who portrays Andy's longtime rival Discord, wore a long cream-colored dress. Other cast members in attendance include KiKi Layne, Marwan Kenzar, Henry Golding and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Matthias Schoenaerts, Veronica Ngo and Luca Marinelli also star. The films take their inspiration from the graphic novels penned by Greg Rucka and illustrated by Leandro Fernandez. Thurman, 55, has also joined the cast of Dexter: Resurrection opposite Michael C. Hall and Peter Dinklage.
Geek Tyrant
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Charlize Theron's Andy Fights Quynh in a 500 Year Old Battle in New Clip From THE OLD GUARD 2 — GeekTyrant
Netflix has released a new clip from the upcoming sequel The Old Guard 2 , in which we get to see Charlize Theron's character Andy and Veronica Ngo's Quynh go head to head in a battle that's 500 years in the making. Theron talked about the plot of the film, and her character's change from the first movie, in a recent interview where she stated, "The stakes have never been higher. Andy is mortal now, so there's a very real possibility that she could die during any mission this time around." The first film concluded with significant shifts in the group's dynamic: Andy (Theron) lost her immortality, Nile (KiKi Layne) gained it, and Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts) was exiled. The film's full synopsis reads: 'Andy (Charlize Theron) and her team of immortal warriors are back, with a renewed sense of purpose in their mission to protect the world. With Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts) still in exile after his betrayal, and Quynh (Veronica Ngô) out for revenge after escaping her underwater prison, Andy grapples with her newfound mortality as a mysterious threat emerges that could jeopardize everything she's worked towards for thousands of years. 'Andy, Nile (KiKi Layne), Joe (Marwan Kenzari), Nicky (Luca Marinelli) and James Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) enlist the help of Tuah (Henry Golding), an old friend who may provide the key to unlocking the mystery behind immortal existence.' Check out the new clip below, and watch The Old Guard 2 when it's released on Netflix on July 2nd.
The Verge
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
The Old Guard's immortal action continues in sequel's first trailer
The Old Guard was one of Netflix's more memorable action flicks, and if the first trailer is anything to go on, the same will be true of its sequel. The streamer just released the first proper look at The Old Guard 2, which continues to follow Andromache (Charlize Theron) as the leader of a squad of immortal mercenaries, only this time around, she's having to deal with being mortal. Oh, and there's a new threat in the form of what sounds like the OG immortal being. In addition to Theron, much of the cast from the original film is returning — including KiKi Layne, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Chiwetel Ejiofor — but there are also some newcomers like Uma Thurman and Henry Golding. Meanwhile, The Old Guard 2 will be directed by Victoria Mahoney (You and Lovecraft Country), and Greg Rucka (who wrote the original graphic novel) is co-writing the screenplay with Sarah L. Walker.
