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“The Old Guard” franchise has seen significant growth since its first installment in 2020. The latest addition to the action-packed series is “The Old Guard 2”, set to premiere on Netflix July 2. We had an exclusive interview with returning stars KiKi Layne, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Marwan Kenzari, as well as newcomer Henry Golding, who joins the ensemble.
It’s clear that Nile, played by KiKi Layne, undergoes significant evolution in this chapter of the story. What were some of the most rewarding aspects of her growth?
Layne: For sure, Nile’s physicality. The stunts I got to do, the choreography, having a weapon – it was really fun to push my physicality to new levels for the second film. That was definitely the highlight for me in terms of Nile’s journey this time around.
The dynamic between Joe and Nicky remains crucial to the heart of the story. How did you all navigate the evolution of their bond, balancing centuries-old intimacy with a renewed sense of purpose as they face escalating threats together?
Kenzari: Honestly, we develop our friendship off-set. We talk constantly. If Marinelli is in his trailer, I’ll visit him. We’ll sit and spend hours talking about various aspects of life that ultimately brought us back when the cameras are rolling. That’s just a gift that we have. We don’t need to pretend to love each other; we genuinely love this man. This makes it much easier for me to do my job.
Copley has transformed significantly since the first film, from being an unwilling ally to now fighting alongside the immortal crew as an integral member of the team. How did stepping into this new role – while still carrying the weight of his humanity – challenge or deepen your performance this time around?
Ejiofor: I enjoyed it. In the first one, I was a bit disappointed that Copley didn’t get to participate in all the action. This film offers me an opportunity to do just that – and with my character helping the team organize and deal with operations using his skillset, this addition is fantastic.
In this installment of “The Old Guard”, combat becomes more intense and personal. How did you prepare for these sequences?
Kenzari: As Chiwetel mentioned, it’s part of your muscle memory. The choreography that our stunt team comes up with – you go through them and increase speed. It’s a fun part of pre-production to master the choreography as good as possible. This is exactly how we prepared for “The Old Guard” and did the same thing for this sequel, just with different choreography.
Lastly, if I could pit any iconic action movie stars against each other in an immortal vs. immortal fight, who would you like to see face off?
Source: gizmodo.com
