Will “The Old Guard 2” ever hit Netflix? As the sequel’s future remains uncertain, star Charlize Theron puts a different thriller on her schedule with the streamer. Deadline reports that the actress is in final talks to star in “Apex,” a buzzy survivalist thriller, with Baltasar Kormákur negotiating a deal to direct. And Kormákur is a solid choice to helm this one: after “Everest,” “Beast,” and “Adrift,” he knows his way around the singular tension of this kind of movie.
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And what a thriller “Apex” could end up being. Deadline describes the film’s script, penned by Jeremy Robbins, as “”Free Solo” meets “Silence Of The Lambs” and follows a rock climber who finds herself being hunted in the wild.” Obviously, Theron would play the rock climber, but as for what, or who, is tracking her, who knows? But Netflix execs loved Robbins’ script so much they scooped it up with only the producers attached. Theron and Kormákur were the streamer’s first choices to star and direct, and now it appears they’ll get their wish, as both of them committed after a script read-through.
That must be some script, then, especially since Theron is also in talks to produce the pic. If the actress signs on, she’ll join Dawn Olmstead, Beth Kono, and AJ Dix as a producer. Other producers on “Apex” include Kormákur through RVK Productions, Ian Bryce, and Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, and David Ready through Chernin Entertainment.
But what about “The Old Guard 2,” the long-awaited sequel to the 2020 Netflix original? That film wrapped shooting almost two years ago and still isn’t on any of the streamer’s release calendars. World Of Reel has an update there (via Variety). According to Theron, Netflix leadership changes are the main reason for the film’s delay. “Netflix went through quite a changeover,” she told Variety in a new interview. “We got kind of stuck in that and our post-production shut down, I think, five weeks into it.” Theron further confirmed “The Old Guard 2” will get a release, but she has no idea when, but the finished product is worth the wait.
Still, should audiences buy Theron’s story? A two-year wait for an almost-finished film is unheard of, as are executive changes halting a movie’s release. It’d help if audiences knew anything about the sequel. But outside of a directing change, with Victoria Mahoney replacing Gina Prince-Blythewood behind the camera, no one knows much about the sequel. Based on a comic book of the same name, “The Old Guard” stars Theron, Matthias Schoenaerts, and more as immortal mercenaries tasked with saving humanity while keeping their identities a secret. It wasn’t a smash hit for Netflix by any means: a halfway-decent action screener and nothing more. Still, the streamer liked the first one’s numbers enough to greenlight a sequel; so will the finished product ever see the light of day?
That remains to be seen, but at least Theron’s relationship with Netflix remains healthy. “Apex” will be her fourth film with the streamer after the “Old Guard” films and “The School Of Good And Evil.” As for Kormákur, “Apex” will be his follow-up to his latest drama, “Touch,” which has earned high marks since its release in late May. The Icelandic director thrives in both dramatic and survivalist formats, so expect “Apex” to be another audience-pleaser from him.
As for a release date for “Apex”? With Netflix so hyped about this project, expect it to hit the streamer sometime next year, as early as possible.