Summary
The Old Guard 2is still coming, according toan update from actress Charlize Theron, and it’s the perfect replacement for the actress’Mad Maxrole. It’s exciting news for fans of Theron’s first appearance as Andromache of Scythia in the first installment in 2020, particularly with such a long wait between films. With actress Anya Taylor Joyreplacing Theron in this year’sFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga,The Old Guardcould be the perfect franchise to give fans the all-action version of Theron they want to see.
We already know a lot aboutwhat to expect fromThe Old Guard 2in terms of cast and story, and with the core cast returning from the original film, it promises to be a fun ride. The original movie’s unique premise, which follows a group of immortal mercenaries who are drawn into an elaborate conspiracy, provides plenty of opportunity for impressive action set pieces – perfectly suited to someone of Theron’s skillset. Given that Theron’s other notable action franchise,Mad Max, has moved on without the South African-born star,The Old Guard 2is a great opportunity.
The Old Guard: The Ages Of The Immortals (Including Andy)
The Old Guard’s Andromache the Scythian is over 6000 years old, and her friends are no spring chickens either. Here’s how old the immortals are.
The Old Guard 2 Can Give Charlize Theron The Franchise Furiosa Couldn’t
ThoughTheron has been in several action filmsover the course of her career, none of these have resulted in a sustainable franchise for her. While not every film has been high quality, there’s been at least one other film over her career that absolutely deserved to get at least one sequel. While the likes of 2017’sAtomic Blondehave been great standalone movies,Mad Max Fury Roadsaw Theron join an already successful franchise and steal the show as Furiosa. Although the movie has received a prequel, there has been no follow-up to the acclaimed 2015 blockbuster.
The fact that Theron hasn’t returned toMad Maxis bitterly disappointing for franchise fans. However, whileThe Old Guardsequel may have been lower on many people’s priority list, it has several things in its favor. The original film, adapted from comics of the same name,left several mysteries unanswered thatThe Old Guard 2could potentially explore. And, unlikeAtomic Blonde, there’s a lot more of the original material to work with.There are two other volumes of the graphic novels that could provide a wealth of plot to adapt, perhaps leading to a movie series that, in time, is just as rich and detailed asMad Max.
Why Charlize Theron Returning As Furiosa Looks Unlikely
While Disappointing, This Could Be Good News
The news that Theron wouldn’t be returning to the role of Furiosa in 2024’s prequel toMad Max: Fury Roadwas met with disappointment by fans of the character. While Anya Taylor-Joy’s performance was phenomenal andFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagawas praised by Theron, the film still performed incredibly poorly at the box office,putting the future of the nextMad Maxinstallment in question. While the film has since bounced back since its streaming release, it still leaves the issue of whether we’ll be seeing a true sequel toFury Roadup in the air.
While we may see moreMad Maxin the future, it’s unlikely we’ll see another Furiosa-led installment.
Mad Maxis a beloved franchise with a strong fanbase, with a director who seems dedicated to giving fans more of what they want. However, while we may see moreMad Maxin the future,it’s unlikely we’ll see another Furiosa-led installment. Even if we did, the torch seems effectively passed to Taylor-Joy. Given the reportedfeud between Theron and co-star Tom Hardyon the set ofFury Road, it’s doubtful Theron would even want to return. This makesThe Old Guard 2’s success even more important when it comes to giving her a major action franchise.
The Old Guard 2’s Delays Have Made It Even More Exciting
Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder
The Old Guard 2finished filming in 2022, and has been stuck in post-production ever since. While fans have been eager for the sequel ever since it was announced, and shake-ups at Netflix have caused ofThe Old Guard 2to be continually pushed back, the delay has only managed to whet fans' appetites. It’s true that delays stretching out for too long can cause interest to fizzle out for a particular franchise, releasing a new entry in a beloved franchise too soon can also hurt its longevity. Therefore,now is arguably the perfect time to release the nextOld Guardinstallment, with fans still eager to see what comes next.
Audiences will only find out if the next installment is worth the wait after its release, but until then there’s a fair amount of excitement for this particular sequel. Given the lack of female-led action films, we’re due to see more of a character like Andy, and with any luck,The Old Guard 2’ssuccess may inspire similar projects. There’s a market for movies like these,particularly with Charlize Theron as the lead, and there’s a good chance thatThe Old Guard 2can tap into that audience.
