Photos by means of Netflix
In step with the Image comic e book sequence from author Greg Rucka & artist Leandro Fernandez, The Historic Guard 2 is the long-awaited sequel to its 2020 predecessor, The Historic Guard, launched in July of that year. Netflix claimed the contemporary movie to be potentially the most well-appreciated title of the summer season quarter, with 78 million households tuning in to gaze in the first four weeks on the platform.
So why did it take goodbye for this standard hit to get its sequel? Launched officially in August 2021, The Historic Guard 2 regarded as if it can be heading in the appropriate direction to get reduction at this time, with megastar/producer Charlize Theron disclosing months earlier in an interview with Selection that the script was as soon as already performed.
On the opposite hand, after a prolonged pre-production stage, the cameras started rolling practically a year later in June 2022 and wrapped in September 2023. Twelve months later, there would be further taking pictures scheduled for the movie lasting a pair weeks.
Eventually, the supportive fans who waited patiently for goodbye (we’re no longer immortal, you appreciate!) would get their fresh adventure in July 2025.
In step with the 2nd Rucka written Historic Guard e book “Power Multiplied” with a script by Rucka & Australian screenwriter Sarah L. Walker, we get six months after the events of the first movie with the updated crew – Andy aka Andromache (Theron), Nile (Kiki Layne), Joe (Marwan Kenzari), Nicky (Luca Marinelli), & ex-CIA/archaic villain accomplice Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) – quiet working mercenary operations to set mankind from extinction, even with Andy quiet grappling with her newfound mortality figured out on the dwell of the contemporary movie.
Moreover from the finale of the contemporary, we’re presented with two major events that existing themselves as the crux of the opposition in the sequel: archaic crew member and fellow immortal Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts) was as soon as sent into exile from the community after his betrayal & Andromache’s longtime immortal accomplice Quynh (Veronica Ngo) has been saved from centuries in an Iron Maiden on the underside of the ocean.
Weaponizing Quynh’s thirst for revenge upon the mortals that imprisoned her in a watery grave & Andromache who failed to procure her in the end this time, a mysterious threat named Discord (played by Atomize Invoice motion queen Uma Thurman) emerges with plans to present Quynh precisely what she desires with the sources and firepower to carry the sector and its immortal protectors to their knees.
The Historic Guard 2 (L-R) Henry Golding as Tuah and Charlize Theron as Andy. Cr. Eli Joshua Ade /NETFLIX
Helmed this time around by prestige TV director Victoria Mahoney, The Historic Guard 2 feels bouncier than its predecessor from the originate; launched from the enormous throat clearing of explaining their immortal backgrounds & persona connections mixed with a protagonist in Andromache whose lifestyles has come into sharper level of curiosity now that she will be able to even even be taken out at any second as a mortal. Each and each member of the crew seems to be well-defined and tightly knit with a person sense of cause. The major movie’s darkish, brooding, and self-serious tone has reputedly given methodology to a lighter sensibility, allowing the chemistry to thrive for long stretches of the sequel’s some distance shorter 100-minute runtime.
Extra importantly, the sequel has valid stakes, a more extremely efficient villain on the level of our heroes, & a non-public connection with the long-awaited return of Quynh.
The major movie was as soon as some distance more centered on bringing along a reluctant recruit in Nile, combating the gift and curse of immortality, & being hunted by mortals to be studied and exploited (with an over the tip Harry Melling performance that didn’t work for me even as partial to the first movie). This movie will get to iterate on these interior struggles and create on them with a mortal Andromache, a redemption arc with Booker, & an expansion of the immortal lore that enables a physical weak point to play into the energetic choices by every persona who comes to be taught about it. Add in a well-respected, legendary actress with a excessive profile background in motion filmmaking in Uma Thurman to handle the fresh villain with a stronger sense of cause, a more grounded methodology to her fury, & a withhold over any individual extremely foremost to Andy. That’s a recipe for bigger engagement and meaningful drama.
On the opposite hand, the toughest field for the movie is never any longer being a standalone entry. The success of the movie heavily depends on the introduction & execution of a 3rd movie in the sequence. Every critique I will imagine feels love the movie conserving reduction potentially the most efficient for later. The story might presumably well private worn more scenes with Andromache & Quynh, either in the existing or a reaffirming flashback, that will presumably well private enhanced the typically struggling chemistry or the drama of the movie’s climax, nonetheless the movie kicks that down the avenue for a doable mission-well-known team-up in Section 3. The story would were better served with a appropriate form last struggle between Andromache, Quynh, & Discord, nonetheless we were treated and in the slay teased with the struggle in the movie’s last moments forward of its inevitable cliffhanger ending. Netflix better be dedicated to this trilogy or else the legacy of this installment and the franchise as a total will doubtless be spoiled with wasted doable. With a 5-year hole between motion pictures, the creators are making a wide guess that the enthusiasm for this installment will get them a inexperienced mild to head for 3.
Nonetheless on this second, The Historic Guard 2 will give fans of the first movie precisely what they might be able to even merely private wished over this half decade. The identical quality direction (kudos to Mahoney for no longer lacking a beat) and fight choreography as the critically well-regarded long-established, a bigger villain performance from Thurman, and story aspects so tantalizing that they made up our minds to electrify it a cliffhanger to pressure a Section 3. Whereas the Andromache/Quynh relationship might maybe utilize some refinement for the franchise’s success transferring forward, we can even merely quiet all private faith in Charlize’s skills and the source cloth from Rucka to ship the supreme form story conclusion we all deserve.
Image: Netflix
Watch The Historic Guard 2 on Netflix If You Esteem The Historic Guard Atomic Blonde Highlander Atomize Invoice Vol. 1 & 2 MVP of The Historic Guard 2 Uma Thurman as Discord
The Historic Guard 2. Uma Thurman as Discord in The Historic Guard 2. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
It feels correct to observe Uma Thurman swinging a blade again.
Her casting as the major villain in a female-led motion movie is intellectual. Thurman brings a level of prestige as an extremely gifted actor of elaborate for a few years, while giving us the long-awaited return of the kickass model of herself that we didn’t know we wished.
Whereas this award if truth be told hinges on a small amount of meaningful conceal time, Thurman makes potentially the most out of it, critically with the rooftop standoff with Theron’s Andromache as they showcase their capacity to originate into impassioned speeches while giving us the bloody struggle we all craved since the trailer dropped. With any luck, Netflix does the supreme thing and announces Section 3 to present us a more heightened rematch.
Five years in the making, The Historic Guard 2 brings a up to date methodology to a more self-serious franchise with bigger stakes, expanded lore, & a stronger villain played by a fable in Thurman. Let’s get on that 3rd movie now, lets?
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