The following contains spoilers for The Old Guard 2, now streaming on NetflixThe Old Guard 2‘s cliffhanger ending sets the stage for a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly third film in the series. Based on the Greg Rucka-created comics of the same name, The Old Guard films focus on a group of immortal warriors who have been protecting and influencing humanity for centuries. The Old Guard 2‘s cast expands to include some new immortals, including allies like the scholar Tuah and the mysterious villain Discord.

The Old Guard 2 also expands the lore of the series, revealing the true importance of new recruit Niles and what her presence could mean for the rest of the immortal warriors. This all builds up to a mᴀssive final battle that ends in defeat for the heroes and a notable death. However, this doesn’t demoralize the remaining heroes, and instead lays the groundwork for a more action-packed sequel. Here’s what happens in the cliffhanger ending of The Old Guard 2 and how it sets up an explosive finale to the trilogy.

Discord’s Plan For The Immortals Explained

Discord’s Plans For A Future Are All A Lie

The Old Guard 2‘s big cliffhanger ending reveals that Discord intends to restore her lost immortality, and that she’s willing to forcibly use Niles’ abilities as the “Last Immortal” to make that happen. Discord is established early in The Old Guard 2 as an ancient and powerful figure who is believed to be the first immortal.

Initially, Discord’s motivations seem to be rooted in disgust for Andy’s actions. By leading other immortals into battle, they’ve changed the trajectory of human history. Discord argues this is playing god, and that all it does is expose the immortals to a frightful and dangerous public.

While this argument seems to help sway the recently freed Quynh to her side, it’s also revealed to be a lie. It turns out that after untold millennia, Discord has naturally lost her immortality. Fearing death, she has decided to capture Niles, who possesses the ability to end an Immortal’s healing abilities and allow their transferal to a new host.

This plays into the final scene of The Old Guard 2, which sees Discord defeat Andy in battle and escape from the compound with a captured Niles, Joe, Nicky, and Tuah. This sets up a prospective third Old Guard film to focus on Andy and Quynh working together to find the others before Discord’s plans come to fruition.

Niles’ Unique Abilities As The Last Immortal, Explained

Niles Is The Most Dangerous Threat To Immortals In The Old Guard 2

Niles was initially introduced in The Old Guard as simply another immortal, the latest in a long line of people who have discovered themselves to be deathless. However, it turns out Niles has some special abilities, as Discord and Tuah come to believe she is the prophesied “Last Immortal.”

Both believe Niles will be the last of their kind, the final person to be born with the ability to bounce back naturally from any and all injuries. This status gives Niles a great advantage over other immortals, as her wounds can nullify the healing abilities of another immortal.

This is revealed to be what happened to Andy in The Old Guard, as it was an errant wound from Niles that resulted in Andy being rendered mortal once again. However, if the wounded immortal willingly gives away their fading immortality to another person, it can latch onto them and make them immortal.

This is why Discord wants Niles, as she possesses the ability to transfer the immortality of another into Discord. Although it may be hard to find an immortal who is willing to transfer their power to her, Discord’s capture of Niles’ compatriots gives her leverage over the younger immortal.

How Andy Becomes Immortal Again & Why Booker Sacrifices Himself

Booker Finally Finds The Ending He Was Looking For In The Old Guard

Andy spends much of The Old Guard 2 mortal again. Although this status doesn’t really seem to bother her, it does raise some challenges for her in combat. However, she eventually has her healing powers restored, albeit at the cost of Booker’s life.

One of the other immortals introduced in The Old Guard, Booker had grown tired of his immortal life and betrayed the rest of the team for a chance at ending his life. Although he did ultimately realize the error of his ways, he was banished from the group. However, Quynh and Discord force Booker to break his vow to avoid the others.

After learning from Tuah about Niles’ abilities, Booker allows himself to be wounded. He then rushes to find Andy, silently bequeathing her his immortality and healing abilities. It seems that, much like in the previous film, Booker was simply focused on finding a way to escape his ageless existence.

Doing this ensured that Andy would be able to survive her duel with Discord. It also gives Booker’s decision to stay behind and fight soldiers at the cost of his life a darker subtext, as it seems Booker had no intention of escaping that battle alive. It’s a somber element of the narrative that’s quietly heartbreaking.

Why Quynh Forgives Andy & Decides To Help Her Against Discord

Quynh And Andy Spend Most Of The Film Fighting, But Come Together In The Ending

The big emotional throughline of The Old Guard 2 is Andy’s relationship with Quynh, her former best friend, who was cast into the sea centuries prior. When Quynh is found by Discord and unleashed on the world, she is initially furious that Andy eventually gave up the search for her.

To her credit, Andy doesn’t try to talk her way out of the guilt and is shown to be genuinely heartbroken about Quyhn’s justifiable rage. However, Quynh doesn’t know the full extent of Discord’s plan. As a result, she’s unaware of Niles’ abilities — which means when she’s wounded by Niles, her healing abilities are negated and she’s left on the brink of death.

Andy saves Quynh’s life and tends to her wounds, ultimately proving to her old friend that she’s still dedicated to her well-being and survival. This sets up Quynh to heal from her wounds and ultimately decide to work alongside Andy to hunt down Discord.

While Quynh doesn’t seem to be as motivated by saving the other immortals as much as getting revenge on Discord for leaving her to die, her willingness to embrace Andy as an ally again is a big step forward for the characters. It sets them up to be the core of a potential The Old Guard 3.

How The Ending Sets Up The Old Guard 3 & Will A Sequel Happen?

The Old Guard 3 Isn’t Currently In Development, But The Old Guard 2 Sets It Up

The Old Guard 2 ends on a mᴀssive cliffhanger, with Andy and Quynh working together as they head off to hunt down Discord and save their allies. A sequel would inevitably follow the pair as they hunted down their captured allies, working to rescue them from Discord’s army.

Another lingering thread for The Old Guard 3 is the fate of James Copley, the group’s mortal ally. Copley is last heard in the film being confronted by Discord’s soldiers, with his fate left a mystery. Copley will likely be revealed to have survived, but it leaves his role in a sequel up in the air.

Although The Old Guard 2 ends on a mᴀssive cliffhanger, there is no third film currently in development. Given the time that it took for the sequel to 2020’s The Old Guard to finally see the light of day, it may be some time before the third film enters production, let alone gets released.

Even if the film is green-lit by Netflix, it might take some time before production can begin, due to the busy film schedules of the cast. Theron is currently filming Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, which would push back any plans to film the next movie in the near future.

The Old Guard 2‘s cliffhanger ending might make that a hard truth to swallow, but Netflix will hopefully move forward with the third film. If not, then hopefully another studio can pick up the project and ensure that fans of the series get the conclusion that The Old Guard 2 sets up.