Prepare to have your pulse racing and your patience tested. This sequel’s finale has ignited a storm of debate across social feeds and fan forums alike.
The Ending, Unraveled
Five years after the first instalment introduced us to immortal warriors, The Old Guard 2 closes with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger that has viewers both riveted and frustrated. In the final act, our heroes embark on a mission to neutralise a bomb rigged by the enigmatic Discord. When Booker—who has just granted his immortality to Andy—falls under Discord’s lethal assault, the stakes skyrocket. Meanwhile, Nile inadvertently wounds Quynh, stripping her of the power to regenerate and placing her life in grave danger. In a tense twist, Nile refuses to detonate the device once she realises she’s been manipulated all along. Discord’s endgame is clear: harness Nile’s gift to resurrect herself and monopolise eternal life. The film cuts to black just as Andy and Quynh, now reconciled and armed, set off to rescue their comrades—leaving the story unresolved and fans clamouring for answers.
Behind-the-Scenes Hurdles
The journey to The Old Guard 2 wasn’t smooth. Originally greenlit in January 2021, the sequel only entered production by summer 2022, once Victoria Mahoney stepped in to replace Gina Prince-Bythewood. Post-production dragged on, punctuated by five weeks of internal Netflix reshuffles and two weeks of reshoots in October 2024. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Mahoney emphasised the care behind the ending’s tone, arguing that “it wasn’t just about leaving viewers in the dark—it was about striking a balance between hope and darkness.” She added that she wanted audiences to walk away “feeling uplifted, yet brimming with curiosity,” rather than burdened by grim finality.
Marching Towards the Next Instalment
Despite the built-in setup for a third film—with Discord’s full reveal and Nile’s moral dilemma front and centre—neither Netflix nor lead producer Charlize Theron has confirmed The Old Guard 3. In The Hollywood Reporter, Theron admitted, “We honestly have no idea what a third film would look like,” even though the sequel lays clear groundwork. To complicate matters, Mahoney revealed to The Direct that she’s contractually bound elsewhere for the “next six to seven years,” making her return unlikely. With no post-credits scene (a stark contrast to the first film’s Quynh tease) and key creative personnel possibly unavailable, the franchise’s future feels perilously improvised.
As of early July 2025, The Old Guard 2 tops Netflix’s France Top 10 Films chart, and the original entry has enjoyed a renewed surge in popularity. Yet, with its abrupt non-ending, many subscribers remain on tenterhooks, eager for resolution but anxious that the story may stall indefinitely. Whether this bold choice will pay off—or leave fans permanently dissatisfied—remains Netflix’s biggest gamble of the summer.
