Director Victoria Mahoney is preparing to unveil her bold vision for The Old Guard 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2020 Netflix action hit originally helmed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. This next chapter reunites the film’s core cast—including Charlize Theron and KiKi Layne—as they return with a renewed sense of purpose, battling dark outside forces that could threaten mankind’s existence. 

Ahead of the film’s July 2 premiere, MadameNoire caught up with Mahoney and leading star KiKi Layne to discuss the making of the sequel, their experiences navigating the industry as Black women, and what audiences can expect from this thrilling new installment.

Speaking at the Netflix Presents Black Excellence Brunch during the American Black Film Festival on June 13, Layne shared how “amazing” it felt to reimagine her role as Nile Freeman for the second time. The 33-year-old star told MadameNoire that she was honored to bring a fresh and powerful presence to the action genre, a category of film that “hasn’t always centered” Black women. For Layne, The Old Guard 2 is more than just a film, it’s a moment of representation and creative evolution.

“It means everything to me,” the Hollywood standout shared. “I’m always thinking about how we are being seen and how I am representing us in every project that I do. To be the lead of an action film, and to do that alongside Charlize Theron and Uma Thurman, these women who have kicked down so many doors for women in action. Now I get to take it to the next level and represent for Black women in action. It’s amazing.”

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As Nile, Layne plays the role of the youngest and newest member of the immortal mercenaries, a Marine-trained warrior who proves she can hold her own among seasoned superheroes. The film demanded intense physicality, with Layne taking on several challenging stunts. While she admitted it was tough at times, the Ohio native described the experience as “physically exciting” and “fun,” embracing the thrill of pushing her body to the limit.

One of the most daunting moments came during a scene where she had to leap from a high balcony onto a flag. Fear crept in, and the crew was moments away from calling in her stunt double. But Layne dug deep, faced her nerves head-on, and made the jump herself—delivering a powerful, adrenaline-fueled performance.

“I said, ’No, today is the day, the cameras are rolling. Oh, I’m about to make this jump.’ And I got into my gear and I did it!,” she gushed with pride. 

The power of filmmaking is in the details, shared Mahoney

Mahoney was thrilled to bring her sharp visual instincts to The Old Guard 2. For the award-winning filmmaker, storytelling lives in the details—every scene, every movement, and every action was meticulously crafted to add depth and nuance to the film. It’s an approach she honed through years of studying theater and working off-Broadway, where precision and intentionality are essential.

Mahoney shared that she worked closely with Layne and the rest of the stellar cast to fine-tune every aspect of their on-screen presence, from how they walked and moved to the subtleties of each scene. This careful “calibration,” she explained, was crucial to creating a layered, immersive, and visually captivating experience for viewers. She’s excited for fans to see it all come together when the film premieres on Netflix July 2.

“Everything from props to location to camera angles to lens, which lens, why we’re close to you, why we’re far from you, what we want the audience to feel and what we don’t want the audience to feel—all the tools that are built to elicit emotion, I enjoy calibrating,” Mahoney said. ”Not only that, [but] sort of getting each aspect to then hit some crescendo or magnum opus. I have a clear visual beat.”

Leading a major action franchise as a Black woman comes with its own set of obstacles, but Mahoney remains confident, committed to standing in her power, and leading with strength, clarity, and creative vision. She acknowledged that while the industry is still “catching up” when it comes to equitably representing filmmakers of diverse backgrounds and identities, she’s focused on pushing boundaries and creating space for more inclusive storytelling to open up doors.

“One must know oneself so well that you are equipped in the face of any circumstance that reduces your greatness,” the director said bluntly. “So, if people standing around you do not see what your full capability is, you have to have an unwavering sense of your greatness and what you have to give that isn’t greater than the person standing next to you, but it’s great in the capacity of all that you have to give on planet earth with your time and your life and your talents and your skills.”

Watch our full interview with Victoria Mahoney and KiKi Layne on The Old Guard 2 above. 

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