The Old Guard, which sees Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne and others as a group of immortal mercenaries, was a big hit for Netflix this year, and a sequel has been in the works for a while. We now know that Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker second unit veteran Victoria Mahoney will take over the director's chair for the new movie.
Mahoney replaces Gina Prince-Bythewood, who wrangled the first film into life and has decided to step away from the sequel to pursue other jobs in the wake of The Old Guard's success. "I love The Old Guard and the story and characters I was honored to put into the world. It was exciting to disrupt the genre,” Prince-Bythewood tells Deadline. "I have decided not to direct the sequel, but will stay on as a producer. I leave our franchise in good hands as my girl Vic Mahoney takes on this next chapter."
With Theron, Layne and much of the original cast back, the next film will once again adapt Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández' graphic novel series about the warrior team, which was exposed to the world in the first movie and recruited Layne's Nile as a new member.
"Genuinely blown backwards by the collective levels of talent, skill and savvy that went into carving The Old Guard,” Mahoney says. "I must’ve watched it over a hundred times, and as such, cannot communicate the true measure of my excitement–being invited on The Old Guard journey alongside ferocious badasses. Ever eager to continue pushing the genre for action-loving audiences." With luck, the sequel will arrive on Netflix next year.