The Old Guard 2 director Victoria Mahoney was excited to create the perfect space for Charlize Theron and Uma Thurman to face off. A sequel to 2020’s The Old Guard, the new movie reunites the original cast for a new adventure, this time dealing with the fallout of two vengeful immortals coming for Andy and her friends. The result is an action-packed story that expands the lore of the universe and sets the stage for a climactic battle that decides the fate of not just the immortals but potentially the world at large.

A fan of the first film and its focus on the emotional core of the characters, Victoria Mahoney took the reins for a sequel that goes bigger in lots of ways, all while remaining focused on what made the first film work. During an interview with ScreenRant, Mahoney discussed the importance of highlighting what worked best in The Old Guard, teased the cliffhanger nature of the finale, and praised action legends Theron and Thurman.

The Importance Of Keeping The Old Guard Emotionally Authentic For The Sequel

“I Wanted To Keep That Pedigree [Of The Original]”

The Old Guard 2 picks up after the events of the first film, with a keen eye on the main cast of characters, even as the plot widens to include a global plot by an immortal villain. “I wanted to make sure that I really emphasized that these are humans dealing with the human condition,” Mahoney explained. “They’re not superheroes. That’s what I believe the first film put forward so wonderfully, honestly, and successfully. I was deeply invested in protecting that, because I think that was a rare approach. I have not seen that approach in that way.”

That appreciation extended beyond the writing and direction, as Mahoney was nothing but complimentary towards the returning stars of the film. Mahoney noted that “I believe the cast is so strong, the decision to bring this caliber of actors to carry water on all ends was such a task. I wanted to keep that pedigree. I wanted to make sure that I helped grow the components of the first one. I was inspired by the interpersonal relationships… It’s just cool and original and fresh.”

Finding The Balance Of Control And Freedom In The Old Guard 2’s Action Scenes

“I’m Here To Protect Whatever Greatness Is In Them”

At the heart of The Old Guard 2 are two of Hollywood’s most enduring stars, Charlize Theron and Uma Thurman. Theron — who is also an Executive Producer on The Old Guard films — returns as the ancient warrior Andy, still leading her team of immortals despite her newfound mortality. Theron joins the cast as the new big bad, a mysterious threat known to the world as Discord. The film embraces having two of modern cinema’s most acclaimed action actresses going toe-to-toe, which was something Mahoney made sure had the room to naturally breathe.

“A big part of working with two people who are very skilled and well-versed in action, who are extremely tapped into their mechanisms as actors, is to stay out of the way. It’s important not to mess with them, not to restrict them. You need to harness the energy. The task is to make space for them to explore and soar. I happen to find that exciting. Someone might enter it with an ego, needing to dominate. My thing is, I’m here to protect whatever greatness is in them. We prepare the ground, step back, and let them fly.“

That commitment to ensuring the perfect space for the actors extends to the standards Mahoney holds the entire crew to. “I don’t want to hear someone chewing gum. If I hear someone four people behind me, I will turn around and tell them to throw that gum away.” People using cell phones on set are an even bigger problem for the director, who argues that “it’s such a brutal thing to do someone who is pouring their guts out and trying to communicate something that’s in the bowels of their soul, through a lens and into audiences.“

It’s all part of Mahoney’s commitment to bringing the best out of everyone involved in the film, especially Theron and Thurman. “Everything is part and parcel so that everyone has their time to work, to labor, to give, and to shine. I really enjoyed finding balance with those two actors. A big part of what I was doing was chasing the balance between the two, making sure we had the sH๏τs that were informative of emotions at different places.“

This approach came in handy during the filming of a duel between Andy and Discord, during which Mahoney and her team “captured the highs and lows, the east, west, north, and south of it all. When one was pinned against the wall, what was behind the other? The choreography of space was as valuable as the choreography of movement; The choreography of the emotion and spirit and heart was as important as any knee or a punch. I really respect those two, and I hope they felt the respect the entire crew had for them.”

Victoria Mahoney Looks Back On Star Wars & Teases The Future Of The Old Guard

“[The Question Was], Have We Earned This? I Believe We Did…”

Beyond her time in the world of The Old Guard 2, Victoria Mahoney has had plenty of time playing with different styles and worlds. On top of a long and successful career helming episodes of shows like American Crime, Lovecraft Country, The Morning Show, Grey’s Anatomy, and You, Mahoney holds the distinction of being the first woman to be a director on a Star Wars project. Looking back at her time as the second unit director on The Rise of Skywalker, Mahoney had nothing but good things to say about her experience in a galaxy far, far away.

“I wanted to do that, because [Star Wars] meant something to me. I got to play in that realm, in a way that my skill set fits perfectly, and where I could help elevate the material.” Openly complimenting Andor and the direction of the franchise going forward, Mahoney explained that “I understand how rare and unique it was that I got to create alongside those characters. I mean, Chewbacca alone! I hugged Chewbacca the first time I saw him [Laughter]. I hugged him like he was actually Chewbacca, not an actor in a suit.”

Without getting into spoilers, Mahoney also addressed The Old Guard 2‘s ending, which sets the stage for an action-packed continuation of the story. Discussing her thought process heading into that final stretch of the film, Mahoney spoke about how “my headspace was focused on how do we best serve the audiences, based on the prior 92 minutes. That’s when we arrived at the place where we did. [The question was], have we earned this? I believe we did, and I believe everyone else who was involved in that decision agreed.”

“The people who spearheaded it, we were concerned and interested in a sense of wonderment and hope. I wasn’t attached to how we got there. I was attached to [that feeling] of wonderment and hope and strength and forтιтude and unity. As far as it being a cliffhanger, I don’t know how to approach things as a mechanism.” For Mahoney, that aspect of the ending wasn’t nearly as important as the emotional response of the audience.

Comparing it to the composition of a fight scene, Mahoney doesn’t care if the movie is too focused on a cool story mechanic or other specific details. Instead, she’s focused on showing “what’s occurring with the characters in any given moment. That’s all I’m chasing. That it happens to be a cliffhanger, that it involves some stuff that may make some people happy and some people pissed off, that’s not my circus. I’m just trying to do it honestly and earnestly. I stand behind it.”

While Mahoney wouldn’t give away any clues about what this means for the future of The Old Guard, it’s clear that the director is ecstatic to have gotten the chance to play in this creative sandbox. Teasing the final moments of the film, Mahoney admitted that she “loves” the final beats of the film. “I love that moment, it’s so cool,” Mahoney admitted with a sly grin. “I’m so excited for audiences to have it.”

The Old Guard 2 will be streaming on Netflix starting July 2.