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Time Magazine
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
Breaking Down the Cliffhanger Ending of The Old Guard 2
Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Old Guard and The Old Guard 2 The final scene of The Old Guard 2 teases a larger, exciting adventure, but after fans have waited five years for a follow-up to 2020's Netflix action film about a loyal and devoted band of immortal mercenaries, the sequel also feels like it stops mid-sentence. An adaptation of the comic books written by Greg Rucka, with art by Leandro Fernández, and published by Image Comics, both The Old Guard and its sequel tell the story of Andy (Charlize Theron), aka Andromache of Scythia, looking good for 6,000 years old, and her band of merry and melancholy soldiers who cannot die. The Old Guard 2, which saw some delays, finally released on July 2, picks up with newbie immortal Nile (KiKi Layne) fully accepted by the group on a high-octane mission in Split, Croatia, aided by the helpful CIA turncoat Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor). We learned in the first film that immortality can run out at any time, and mortality has caught up to Andy by the end of The Old Guard after she stops immediately healing from battle wounds. But it hasn't diminished her capacity for intense combat and badassery. The Old Guard 2 picks up about right where the first film, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, left off. The Old Guard's final cliffhanger scene revealed that two characters we thought were old news would be back for any future sequel: the remorseful traitor Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts) is surprised by Quynh (Van Veronica Ngo), an immortal, who Andy had lost hundreds of years ago. Quynh was persecuted for being a witch and submerged underwater for 500 years in an iron maiden – in the first scene of The Old Guard 2, Quynh's metal coffin is dragged back up to the surface by Discord (Uma Thurman), an older, crueller immortal who shares none of the compassion and loyalty of Andy's crew. When the Old Guard first sees a security image of Discord, Nile recognizes her from her dreams. Andy goes to see Tuah (Henry Golding), who is basically an immortal archivist, collecting any written or reported evidence of their kind from across human history in a sprawling library of speculation and superstition. This is where Nile saw Discord in her dream, and what she saw was Discord stealing all of Tuah's books about the Old Guard. According to Tuah, Discord is the oldest immortal (older than Andy, even) and witnessing the persecution of her kind did not make her believe in immortal solidarity, but that she would only be protected by amassing wealth and power—and hoarding it for herself. She thinks their persecution is exacerbated by immortals like Andy interfering with humans. What's Discord's plan with our heroes? Discord knows reintroducing Quynh to the land of the living spells chaos for the tight-knit Old Guard—even though Andy et al. have been searching for her all these years, it didn't feel like that thorough from her perspective. Booker tells the team where to find Quynh, and as Andy and her vengeful ex have a painful reunion, Discord has an ominous conversation with Nile in a church where she drops a big lore bombshell: the birthmarks on Discord and Nile's arms shows that they're the first and the last immortals, and Nile has an unconfirmed power that Discord is hungry for. The film builds to a massive showdown at an industrial facility where in an act of redemption, Booker gives his immortality to Andy. How come? Earlier in the film, Tuah shared a theory that if the last immortal wounds another immortal, then they would lose their immortality, and Discord likely wants Nile to make all the Old Guard mortal and then kill them. Legend says that a wounded immortal can also gift their deathlessness to someone who is mortal, which is how Andy is back to her magic-healing self by the time she faces down Discord in a battle of blades. What questions does The Old Guard 2 leave us with? At the end of The Old Guard 2, Discord has incapacitated Andy's team, including Nile, bagging them and carting them away on choppers. In a moment of tense intimacy, Quynh chooses to not lash out by detonating a bomb set up by Discord, a small step towards making peace with her feelings of betrayal at the world she came back to. Discord and Andy fight, with Discord eventually getting away with all of Andy's friends. It's worth pointing out that Discord is not in Rucka and Fernández's second volume Force Multiplied—their story focuses on the venomous return and revenge of Nokiro (a Japanese character rewritten for the films as Quynh, to suit Vietnamese actress Veronica Ngo). Force Multiplied is a far more confronting and personal story than what we get in The Old Guard 2, where a 'big bad' reveals in her final moments that she is mortal and wants Nile to gift her the immortality of all the Old Guard. Recuperating at Tuah's library (it seems Nile accidentally robbed Quynh of her immortality in their skirmish; it's hard to track which of these people is really immortal in any given moment), the pair decide to wage war on their mutual enemy, reuniting for the first time in centuries. This is where The Old Guard 2 ends: a rallying cry for a mission we never get to see, with a quick quip to show a rift has healed. 'Are you going to do what you do best and fight by my side?' asks Andy. 'No, you will fight by my side,' replies Quynh. Our leads run towards a door—and the credits hit before they even step outside. The Old Guard ended on a cliffhanger, yes, but it was more of a neat coda on a satisfyingly concluded journey than the sequel, which ends midway through the story. Compare another bonkers sequel-tease ending from a recent genre film: 28 Years Later ends with a cliffhanger that introduces a psychotic and violent cult modeled in the image of one of Britain's most notorious children's entertainers. But 'the Jimmies' only appeared after our protagonist had completed his emotional arc, plus the sequel that will explain this cliffhanger has already been shot and dated for release. As of writing, there is no confirmation that The Old Guard 3 will be made. For an action series about the perils of time stretching on and on, it's a little ironic for The Old Guard 2 to cut itself so punishingly short.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Charlize Theron is turning 50 soon. The 'Old Guard 2' star can't wait.
Charlize Theron is staring down 50 in just about a month. And 50 should be scared. The Oscar-winning actress ("Monster"), who reprises her butt-kicking, comic-book inspired role of Andromache of Scythia, or Andy, in "The Old Guard 2" (streaming July 2 on Netflix), simply has no time for society's judgmental ageist critiques. As long as Charlize thinks Charlize is hot, all is well. "Listen," she says with a smile as she peppers her comments with expletives. "I wore fishnets last night because I felt awesome in them, and that's where I'm heading right now, it's like, I don't give a ..." well, you know what. "I have limited time left, and I'm going to do it up the way I want to do it up, and that's it," she says, contrasting her feelings today with half a lifetime ago when she felt her on-screen sexuality was her stock-in-trade. "I have no more time to pretend to live my life for other people." Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox Not that Theron doesn't sizzle in "Old Guard 2," where she and a bevy of other seductive and powerful women − including Uma Thurman as Discord and KiKi Layne as Nile Freeman − battle immortal figures who are bent on humanity's destruction. A highlight and hallmark of the sequel is bringing together talented female actors under the direction of Victoria Mahoney, who made a name for herself as second-unit director on 2018's "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," a first for a woman on that series. "When I started my career, I never saw a woman in such positions," Theron says of Mahoney, adding that many of the producers and crew on "Old Guard 2" were women. "Early on as an actor, if I heard that Gwyneth (Paltrow) or Cameron (Diaz) or any of my generation got cast, I didn't even bother to look at the script again because I figured the one role was taken," she says. "We still have a long way to go. There are so many talented women, but so few opportunities. But that said, it feels better these days, more inclusive. It feels like you're not alone out there, that's the best way I can put it." Theron is a doting mom to daughters Jackson, 12, and August, 9. The girls, however, are not impressed by Theron's on-screen exploits; the actress told Jimmy Kimmel her kids were far more dazzled by Tom Cruise's "Mission: Impossible" stunts than her own in "Old Guard 2." Theron adopted the girls from South Africa, a country in which she continues to invest time and money. Just a few days ago, she hosted another block party to raise money for the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, which helps community-based organizations that provide health, education and other support for young people in need. "Women in South Africa are facing femicide at a high rate and it's something nobody is talking about," Theron says. "So we do our small part, partnering with organizations in the trenches, coming up with answers and not waiting around for policy changes. And that's not a Black or white thing, we don't look at people's needs in that way. But it just so happens, though, that minorities of color are the others that usually fall between the cracks." Theron has a lot of irons in the fire. Her production companies, Denver and Delilah Productions (named after her dogs) and Secret Menu, are busy pursuing a range of projects with a particular focus on her favorite genre, documentaries. Secret Menu announced it would produce a new film on the Alexander brothers, real estate moguls who have been accused of serial sexual abuse. But she's also just wrapped filming another movie for Netflix that will find her buff and taking no guff. In "Apex," Theron plays a rock climber who loses her husband (played by Eric Bana) and goes to Australia to deal with her loss. "She heads into nature to let it beat her up a bit," Theron says. "She meets a man who looks like someone who can help her, but he turns out to be a serial killer (Taron Egerton) and he hunts her through the outback wilderness." Let's just say in Hollywood's not-so-distant past, 50-year-old women were not cast doing battle with serial killers. If Theron has her way, she will be entertaining us with such gritty turns well into her Social Security years. And it seems she's got her mother, Gerda, to thank for that. "My mom is − well, we're not 100% sure how old she is, she's from a small town in South Africa and the records were written in pencil, I think − but she's maybe 74 or 72," she says with a big laugh. "I told my mom that I was looking forward to 50, and she said, 'Oh, honey, it gets so much better when you hit your 70s.' So, yeah, I feel like I got lucky with good genes. I think life's going to be OK for me from here on out." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Charlize Theron, 'Old Guard 2' star, can't wait to turn 50
Vancouver Sun
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Uma Thurman returns to the action genre in Netflix's The Old Guard 2
From the vengeful Bride in Kill Bill to the enigmatic Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction , Uma Thurman has carved an indelible niche in cinematic history, particularly within the action genre. Her collaborations with acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino not only solidified her status as a pop culture icon but also showcased her remarkable ability to blend intense physicality with dramatic depth. After a 21-year hiatus from the action genre, Thurman makes a highly anticipated return in The Old Guard 2 , which is now streaming on Netflix. In this eagerly awaited sequel, Andy (Charlize Theron) and her team of immortal warriors face a new enemy, Discord (Thurman), one of the oldest immortals who threatens their existence along with the rest of the world. Directed by Victoria Mahoney, the film also stars KiKi Layne, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Henry Golding, Vân Veronica Ngô, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari and Luca Marinelli. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. This comeback, which Thurman charmingly described as 'tickling her pink,' sees her embracing the challenge of new physically demanding roles. The Boston-born actor is celebrated for injecting humanity into even her most dangerous characters – a trait she consciously brought to the 'tortured and twisted' antagonist Discord. In this exciting new phase of her career, she has a newfound sense of calm, a tranquility she confesses she'd never experienced before. Her return isn't just a nostalgic echo of past glories, it's also a reminder of her enduring talent. Congratulations Uma, how did it feel to be returning to the action genre after over 20 years? I was excited. I wish I had had more time to practice. It just tickled me pink having kind of not doing any rehashing of my Kill Bill moments and then just tossing them to Charlize. in this finale of her great action epic work. So, it really was fun. And it was kind of perfect because it was challenging, and it was exciting. And, also, she had all the heavy lifting, and I got to see her incredible working style. It was really wonderful. Director Victoria Mahoney said that you became a vital part of shaping Discord's arc and preventing this from being a tropey antagonist. What did you wanna bring to Discord? I wanted to bring to Discord the same thing I always try to bring to characters, which is humanity. She's kind of tortured and twisted and dangerous, but she's coming at it from a slightly broken but passionate once-human heart. What I liked about the first film is that all of the characters were really quite relatable, less so the villain. And I thought in this case that she would be serving the piece best if she was more relatable as a sort of tortured human. My favorite scene is that epic fight sequence with you and Charlize and that electric energy was palpable when two iconic female action stars finally battle on screen. Tell me something about that scene that we wouldn't have guessed from just watching it in that moment play out. I mean, those kind of sequences are broken down into a series of movements, whether it's three or four or five or six or seven, but sometimes only two. But, you break scenes down and into sequences of movement. And Charlize is a great scene partner. She's unbelievably professional and amazingly hardworking. To walk in the shoes of the oldest immortal who has perhaps seen it all, lived through all the historic events that humanity's ever faced, did that weigh on you whilst playing her? I think that's a beautiful depth to meditate on for a character. To imagine someone who's been observing all of history. I think those of us who are really curious and like to read history and try to imagine it ourselves. It was kind of just like the next level to that sort of historical curiosity. I think that a lot of people enjoy these movies for that reason also. Like, there's a depth to it and a fascination with that. How would you define this current phase of your career? Honestly, I think I'm finally getting to a more relaxed phase of my career. I was always very, very, high strung and very hard on myself and very driven in some way, even though mostly off screen. But, I think I'm finally feeling a sense of calm that I never felt before. There's that line that you say in the film, 'Time means nothing until it means everything.' So what's the thing you spend most of your time doing for yourself right now? I do lots of things. I love being in nature. I'm quite devoted to my family, so I try to spend as much time with my family as possible, as they have for me. And just sort of being well, creatively curious. I read a lot. I try to pay attention to what's going on in the world and even pray a little bit these days. You filmed a portion of the movie in Vancouver. What did you love about the city? It's one of my favorite cities in the whole world. I just love Vancouver. It's one of the most aesthetically, physically, naturally beautiful cities. I've been going there since my teens. I made quite a few different films and worked there. So I've spent a good amount of time in Vancouver. I'm very, very fond of it. In one of my dream parallel lives, I live in Vancouver. The Old Guard 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
Ottawa Citizen
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
Uma Thurman returns to the action genre in Netflix's The Old Guard 2
Article content From the vengeful Bride in Kill Bill to the enigmatic Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction, Uma Thurman has carved an indelible niche in cinematic history, particularly within the action genre. Her collaborations with acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino not only solidified her status as a pop culture icon but also showcased her remarkable ability to blend intense physicality with dramatic depth. Article content Article content After a 21-year hiatus from the action genre, Thurman makes a highly anticipated return in The Old Guard 2, which is now streaming on Netflix. In this eagerly awaited sequel, Andy (Charlize Theron) and her team of immortal warriors face a new enemy, Discord (Thurman), one of the oldest immortals who threatens their existence along with the rest of the world. Directed by Victoria Mahoney, the film also stars KiKi Layne, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Henry Golding, Vân Veronica Ngô, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari and Luca Marinelli. Article content Article content This comeback, which Thurman charmingly described as 'tickling her pink,' sees her embracing the challenge of new physically demanding roles. The Boston-born actor is celebrated for injecting humanity into even her most dangerous characters – a trait she consciously brought to the 'tortured and twisted' antagonist Discord. In this exciting new phase of her career, she has a newfound sense of calm, a tranquility she confesses she'd never experienced before. Her return isn't just a nostalgic echo of past glories, it's also a reminder of her enduring talent. Article content Article content I was excited. I wish I had had more time to practice. It just tickled me pink having kind of not doing any rehashing of my Kill Bill moments and then just tossing them to Charlize. in this finale of her great action epic work. So, it really was fun. And it was kind of perfect because it was challenging, and it was exciting. And, also, she had all the heavy lifting, and I got to see her incredible working style. It was really wonderful. Article content Director Victoria Mahoney said that you became a vital part of shaping Discord's arc and preventing this from being a tropey antagonist. What did you wanna bring to Discord? Article content I wanted to bring to Discord the same thing I always try to bring to characters, which is humanity. She's kind of tortured and twisted and dangerous, but she's coming at it from a slightly broken but passionate once-human heart. What I liked about the first film is that all of the characters were really quite relatable, less so the villain. And I thought in this case that she would be serving the piece best if she was more relatable as a sort of tortured human.
Calgary Herald
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Uma Thurman returns to the action genre in Netflix's The Old Guard 2
Article content From the vengeful Bride in Kill Bill to the enigmatic Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction, Uma Thurman has carved an indelible niche in cinematic history, particularly within the action genre. Her collaborations with acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino not only solidified her status as a pop culture icon but also showcased her remarkable ability to blend intense physicality with dramatic depth. Article content Article content After a 21-year hiatus from the action genre, Thurman makes a highly anticipated return in The Old Guard 2, which is now streaming on Netflix. In this eagerly awaited sequel, Andy (Charlize Theron) and her team of immortal warriors face a new enemy, Discord (Thurman), one of the oldest immortals who threatens their existence along with the rest of the world. Directed by Victoria Mahoney, the film also stars KiKi Layne, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Henry Golding, Vân Veronica Ngô, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari and Luca Marinelli. Article content Article content This comeback, which Thurman charmingly described as 'tickling her pink,' sees her embracing the challenge of new physically demanding roles. The Boston-born actor is celebrated for injecting humanity into even her most dangerous characters – a trait she consciously brought to the 'tortured and twisted' antagonist Discord. In this exciting new phase of her career, she has a newfound sense of calm, a tranquility she confesses she'd never experienced before. Her return isn't just a nostalgic echo of past glories, it's also a reminder of her enduring talent. Article content Article content I was excited. I wish I had had more time to practice. It just tickled me pink having kind of not doing any rehashing of my Kill Bill moments and then just tossing them to Charlize. in this finale of her great action epic work. So, it really was fun. And it was kind of perfect because it was challenging, and it was exciting. And, also, she had all the heavy lifting, and I got to see her incredible working style. It was really wonderful. Article content Director Victoria Mahoney said that you became a vital part of shaping Discord's arc and preventing this from being a tropey antagonist. What did you wanna bring to Discord? Article content I wanted to bring to Discord the same thing I always try to bring to characters, which is humanity. She's kind of tortured and twisted and dangerous, but she's coming at it from a slightly broken but passionate once-human heart. What I liked about the first film is that all of the characters were really quite relatable, less so the villain. And I thought in this case that she would be serving the piece best if she was more relatable as a sort of tortured human.
