Deadline reports that Netflix and Skydance are at full speed ahead in choosing a director for The Old Guard 2. The first film became one of Netflix’s most popular original films to date, and Victoria Mahoney has been revealed to direct the sequel. Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Veronica Ngo, and Chiwetel Ejiofor will all return to reprise their roles.
Mahoney is stepping in for Gina Prince-Bythewood, who directed the first film but decided not to return for the sequel. The success of The Old Guard led to several new jobs for Prince-Bythewood, including Sony’s The Woman King starring Viola Davis and Thuso Mbedu.
In addition, Mahoney is one of the more in-demand directors nowadays after becoming second unit director on J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, making her the first woman and first Black woman to direct a Star Wars film.
The Old Guard, inspired by the graphic novel series written by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández, follows a covert team of immortal mercenaries who are suddenly exposed and must fight to keep their identity a secret just as an unexpected new member is discovered. It was seen by 78M households in its first four weeks on Netflix. Rucka will pen the sequel.