The Old Guard 2: Review, Cast, LGBTQ Representation

Few Netflix action movies sparked as much debate this summer as The Old Guard 2. The sequel landed on the platform on July 2, 2025, and has left audiences divided over its action, story, and the evolution of its characters. Here’s what the sequel delivers, what it leaves unclear, and what it means for the franchise.

Release date: July 2, 2025 ·
Streaming platform: Netflix ·
Lead actor: Charlize Theron ·
Sequel to: The Old Guard (2020)

A few production and release details provide the essential context for the sequel.

Is The Old Guard 2 worth watching?

What do critics say?

• Loud and Clear Reviews (film review site) judged the sequel disappointing overall (Loud and Clear Reviews).
• InSession Film (film criticism outlet) described the sequel as falling short of the original (InSession Film).
• Gizmodo/io9 (tech and culture news) reported the cast aimed for a film that “bleeds, thinks, and fights harder” (Gizmodo/io9).

What do audiences say?

• Fan reactions are mixed. Some viewers praise the deeper lore, while others on community platforms like Reddit have called the action sequences “mostly pathetic.”
• The LGBTQ+ representation has drawn strong opinions, with some feeling it is a step forward and others seeing it as a step back.

How does it compare to the original?

• The original film was praised for its tight, grounded action and emotional intimacy. The sequel trades that for a broader, more mythological scope.
• Critics argue the expansion of the lore comes at the cost of the kinetic, character-driven action that made the first film a hit.

Why did the Old Guard 2 fail?

Box office expectations vs Netflix model

• As a Netflix original, the sequel bypasses traditional box office metrics, making immediate viewership data the key success measure.
• Without a theatrical release, the film lives or dies by its streaming numbers, which Netflix has not disclosed.

Critical reception

• The critical consensus is split. While some outlets appreciate the deeper exploration of the immortal mythology, others find the narrative murky and the action lacking.
• Lynn Venhaus of the Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) criticized the film’s “murky, morose narrative.”
• The 105-minute runtime packs in a lot of lore, which some reviewers found unwieldy.

Fan expectations

• Fans of the original expected the same high-octane action and the prominent queer relationship of Joe and Nicky, which InSession Film noted “diminishes the queer elements that distinguished the first film” (InSession Film).
• Production struggles, including a fire on set in August 2022 and a halt in post-production, may have impacted the final product (Wikipedia).

Is there an Old Guard 3?

Current status

• No official confirmation for The Old Guard 3 has been made by Netflix.
• The ending of the sequel leaves room for a continuation, but a greenlight likely depends on the performance of the second film.

What the cast and crew have said

• Charlize Theron has expressed interest in continuing the story, but has also acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the franchise’s future on Netflix.
• Wikipedia reports that additional photography took place as recently as October 2024, indicating active effort to refine the film (Wikipedia).

Potential plot directions

• The comics by Greg Rucka provide ample source material for a third film, focusing on the next generation of immortals and the consequences of immortality.
• A third film could dive deeper into Andy and Quynh’s history and the global network of immortals.

What are the powers of The Old Guard?

Immortality and healing

• Immortals regenerate from any injury, including fatal wounds. This central ability sets them apart from regular humans.
• They age extremely slowly, allowing them to live for centuries while maintaining peak physical condition.

How immortals lose their powers

• An immortal can lose their regenerative ability if they feel they have fulfilled their purpose or have lost the will to live.
• Andy (Andromache) experienced this in the first film, and her status remains a central point of tension in the sequel. Whether she regains her immortality is left ambiguous (Loud and Clear Reviews).

Age and abilities

• Exact ages of the immortals are not explicated stated in the films, but Andy is hinted to be thousands of years old. The comics place her age at over 6,000 years.
• Each immortal retains the skills and knowledge accumulated over their lifetimes, making them formidable warriors.

Is The Old Guard 2 LGBTQ?

Andy and Quynh’s relationship

• The sequel explicitly develops the romantic relationship between Andy (Charlize Theron) and Quynh (Veronica Ngô). Collider (movie news site) described their union as a “romantic communion.”
• This central queer relationship is a major plot driver, expanding on the history between the two characters.

Representation in the film

• The film continues to feature Joe (Marwan Kenzari) and Nicky (Luca Marinelli), the established male couple from the first film.
• However, InSession Film reported that Joe and Nicky do not kiss or share overt affection in the sequel, which has drawn criticism for diminishing their representation (InSession Film).

Audience and critic reactions

• The film is praised for putting a queer relationship (Andy and Quynh) at the center of the narrative.
• At the same time, it is criticized for sidelining the franchise’s most visible queer couple, Joe and Nicky, creating a conflicting message about LGBTQ+ representation in the franchise.

Timeline

• 2020 — The Old Guard released.
• June 2022 — Principal photography began in Italy (Wikipedia).
• August 2022 — A fire occurred on set while the production was being dismantled (Wikipedia).
• September 2022 — Filming was reported complete (Wikipedia).
• July 2024 — Charlize Theron stated that post-production had been halted for five weeks (Wikipedia).
• October 2024 — Additional photography took place (Wikipedia).
• July 2, 2025 — The Old Guard 2 released globally on Netflix (Netflix).

What we know and what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts:

• Released July 2, 2025 on Netflix.
• Stars Charlize Theron alongside KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, and returning cast.
• Directed by Victoria Mahoney.
• Features Uma Thurman and Henry Golding as new cast members.
• Includes LGBTQ+ representation through the relationship of Andy and Quynh, and the continued presence of Joe and Nicky.

What’s unclear:

• Whether Andy fully regains her immortality.
• Exact ages of the immortals (implied but not stated in the film).
• Whether The Old Guard 3 will be greenlit by Netflix.
• The specific reason for the post-production halt in 2024.

“The sequel disappoints overall.”

— Loud and Clear Reviews (film review site)

“The sequel retains explicitly queer characters and LGBTQ+ themes but diminishes the queer elements that distinguished the first film.”

— InSession Film (film criticism outlet)

“The cast set out to make a sequel that bleeds, thinks, and fights harder.”

— Gizmodo/io9 (tech and culture news)

For Netflix subscribers deciding whether to stream The Old Guard 2, the calculation is direct: the sequel offers a slower, more mythological journey. Accept the trade-off between action sequel thrills and deeper emotional currents, or revisit the original for its lean, grounded violence. Either way, the franchise’s future is now in the hands of its audience.

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