The sequel 'The Old Guard 2' brings together two legendary women of action for an unforgettable showdown—one you never realized was exactly what you were waiting for.
Uma Thurman stars in the follow-up to Netflix's popular action film as Discord, a powerful adversary for Charlize Therton's main character, Andy.
Uma was interviewed by The STAR prior to the movie's release on the online viewing service.
Without revealing too many details, Uma's character named Discord ranks among the eldest—if not the most long-lived—immortal beings, and she certainly does not hold onto Andy's faith in humankind. On the flip side, even after losing her own eternal youth within the initial movie, Andy remains at the helm of the ageless fighters. Eventually, this follow-up installment explains what originally caused that loss of everlasting life.
Those who love "Kill Bill" can thank both the film deities—and Charlize—for bringing Uma back into the action limelight after two decades.
To be honest, I actually looked up their ages online—and from what I found, Uma is currently 55 and Charlize is 49. Watching them share the screen in a movie that highlights women both in front of and behind the camera really seems like progress for how stories are told in Hollywood. It's particularly inspiring seeing actresses in their forties and fifties leading the way and dominating those high-octane sequences.
Adapted from Greg Rucka’s comic series "The Old Guard," the movie features Kiki Layne portraying Nile, the youngest confirmed immortal, and has Victoria Mahoney directing Part 2.
Here’s what transpired during my brief conversation with Uma as part of our online discussion hosted via Zoom for Netflix.
To start with, I’d like to ask: What inspired you to agree to be part of "The Old Guard"? Also, how did they present the project to you initially?
Uma: "There wasn’t really a formal pitch. What convinced me to agree was looking at Charlize’s performance and the entire cast’s work in the original film—I felt like she’d brought together something genuinely extraordinary. It completely drew me in. I adored the movie."
The way she effortlessly expanded the role of women in action movies, all while building her own successful series and moving forward with a sequel, really stands out in cinema history—especially when you consider how rare it is for a female lead to achieve something like that.
And I kind of saw an opportunity where, because of my own history with 'Kill Bill,' maybe I could contribute to making her final scene more powerful and deliver something thrilling for the audience by the end of the film.
For many years, fans kept asking me to return to action — whether it was making the third *‘Kill Bill’* or something similar — but I never did. Since Charlize had such great success in the original film, doing this short little project felt like an enjoyable way to finally respond to those requests."
Yeah, I was just thinking how exciting it must be for fans to see you back in intense action scenes once more. It makes me curious—what did it feel like, both physically and emotionally, stepping into this kind of role again two decades after *Kill Bill* and where things stand now with your journey so far?
Uma: "To be honest, it was truly enjoyable. I was doing my best to recall everything — you know how it is when you've practiced something so intensely; your brain just kicks in automatically, thankfully! That muscle memory definitely made it easier for me to jump back into action with minimal prep time for such an intense fight scene. We worked alongside an amazing group of stunts people who were there every step of the way to help out. Honestly speaking, it turned out being super exciting."
Regarding that massive fight sequence involving Charlize, how did you go about pulling it off?
Uma: "It was lengthy. There were several segments in the scene—at least five distinct parts as far as how they split things up. Because of that, we shot it across multiple sessions. Still, it was thrilling. Strapping into a helicopter and spinning around tightly—you know, one of those 'oh-my-God' moments—really intense. And seeing her just dangling from the chopper’s edge with only her arms holding on? That image will stay with me forever. Absolutely incredible."
How would you compare the way female characters used to be shown in action movies compared to today—what improvements have been made, and where does Hollywood still fall short?
Uma: "It seems like things are changing—and even coming full circle—because of people forging new paths and charting their own course, just like Charlize has done. The reaction from audiences appears to be shifting as well."
You could sense the eagerness and passion from fans as they watched her present the sequel, and that’s where the real strength lies—the connection between creators and their audience. That energy feels tangible; you can really feel how lively and dynamic it is, bringing so much happiness to everyone involved.
Watch the movie instantly through www.netflix.com/TheOldGuard2 .)