Shubhabrata Dutta
The “Old” clashes with the “Oldest” in Netflix’s superhero movie ‘The Old Guard 2,’ which is based on the eponymous comic book series by Greg Rucka. The Victoria Mahoney directorial takes place six months after the events of ‘The Old Guard’ and shows Andy (Charlize Theron) navigating mortality. However, she hasn’t given up her responsibility to guard the world. Things take a dark turn when Discord (Uma Thurman), the first of the immortals, returns to spread chaos and make Andy pay for forsaking her own kind while protecting humanity.
Andy thus reunites with her team to prevent what seems to be a disastrous consequence of her actions. Adding to the mess is Quynh (Veronica Van), who has escaped her underwater prison and is looking for revenge. ‘The Old Guard 2’ enhances the visual grandness of the story with high-contrast sweeping landscapes that complement the journey of the immortal warriors, all while preserving the gritty tone of the predecessor.
The Old Guard 2 Filming Locations
‘The Old Guard 2’ was filmed in Italy, France, British Columbia, and the United Kingdom, specifically in Bergamo Province, Rome, Trieste, and Cernobbio; Paris; and Vancouver, respectively. Principal photography reportedly began in the third week of June 2022 and continued for just over 3 months before wrapping up in the last week of September the same year. This includes the delay caused by a fire on set. Work was also shut down five weeks into post-production due to a change in Netflix leadership. Additional photography was carried out over around 14 days between the first and the third week of October 2024.
Rome, Italy
Most of the movie was filmed in Italy’s scenic locations and indoor spaces. The crew accessed the modern facilities and spaces of Cinecittà Studios, located at 1055 Via Tuscolana in the capital city of Rome. The 400,000 square foot studio boasts over 20 sound stages, including an LED Volume stage for virtual production, which assisted in lensing the large-scale action sequences, complex set pieces, and interiors of various buildings. The cutting-edge resources of the studio, one of the largest in Europe, enabled the design team, led by Packi Meduri, to give shape to the world of ‘The Old Guard 2’ in an authentic manner. “All this coming from the talents and skills of the art department and location scouts. Being mainly based in Italy gave the production a very wonderful feel,” the Director of Photography, Barry Ackroyd, told Collider.
He added, “It was great to have those locations to set the scene for The Old Guard 2.” One set reportedly caught fire while being dismantled, and while production was delayed a bit, nobody got hurt. In Fiumicino, a commune in Rome, an area near the Via del Faro and the Scales by the Roman coast was closed off during early hours for taping a few “war” shots. The crew reportedly built a small forest setup in the Tree House, AKA Casa Albero/Casa Sperimentale, part of the pine forest in Fregene, a hamlet in Fiumicino. The experimental suspended villa was constructed by Giuseppe Perugini, Uga De Plaisant, and Raynaldo Perugini between 1968 and 1975 for weekend occupation. It now stands as an example of post-apocalyptic semi-brutalist architecture.
Bergamo Province, Italy
Various communes and towns in the Bergamo Province were used as backdrops. These include the communes of Riva Di Solto, Predore, and Tavernola, as well as the towns of Lovere and Castro. A few scenes were recorded with Lake Iseo, AKA Sebino, in the backdrop, on a stretch of coastal road in Western Sebina. All these gorgeous locations were used to capture several outdoor scenes, enriching the visuals with a bright color palette while adding versatility to the backdrops.
Trieste, Italy
The crew also lensed some scenes in the city of Trieste in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. The area between Molo Audace, an iconic pier on the shores of the city, and Molo Audace, AKA Maritime Station, at 3 Molo dei Bersaglieri, was used as a setting for a few sequences. Via Gabriele Foschiatti Street was transformed into a Parisian street, thereby pointing to the possibility that the crew may have used Italian locations to double for scenes set in Paris. Over 500 people were involved in the production, along with around 300 extras.
Cernobbio, Italy
The production team shot some outdoor scenes in Cernobbio, a commune in the Como province in northern Italy. Located near Lake Como, the city is known for its breathtaking views and stunning villas that are home to the elites. The natural surroundings further enhance the appeal. The crew also set up shop in Villa Erba, located at 4, Largo Luchino Visconti. The 19th-century villa has a strong connection with Italian cinema as it was the childhood summer home of famed Italian director Luchino Visconti. With its frescoes, carved ceilings, and mannerist-inspired rooms, the villa today stands as one of the best and most sophisticated wedding venues on Lake Como. The ground floor, with its grand entrance hall, can accommodate up to 450 seated people. It has a 100,000-square-meter English garden overlooking Lake Como and a separate green space, known as the ex Galoppatoio, for installations, logistics, and large concerts.
Paris, France
Paris, the capital city of France, was reportedly used for a few shots. The crew took aerial footage of the Arc de Triomphe at Place Charles de Gaulle. Standing at the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle junction, the tall structure honors those who sacrificed their lives for France in the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars. It is one of Paris’s most famous monuments and can be spotted in movies like ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ and ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout.’ Paris itself is a popular filming location due to its rich historical backdrops. It has served as the base for many action projects, including ‘Lioness,’ ‘The Killer,’ ‘Red Notice,’ and ‘Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,’ alongside the ones mentioned above.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver, a major city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, became the base for reshoots. The crew taped a few scenes at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary at 646 Richards Street. The 19th-century French Gothic revival church aids in highlighting the time period that spans the life of the immortals. Vancouver, nicknamed Hollywood North, is a major production hub in North America and boasts numerous filming studios and urban backdrops for scenes with a contemporary setting. ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ ‘ Peacemaker,’ and ‘Arrow’ were taped in Vancouver.
United Kingdom
Some scenes were reportedly lensed in the United Kingdom. Since parts of ‘The Old Guard’ were captured at Shepperton Studios at Studios Road, Shepperton, in Surrey, England, it is possible that the crew went back to capture indoor scenes for ‘The Old Guard 2’ as well. Even if that’s not the case, the UK is a major international hub for film and TV production and home to numerous top-tier studios, one or more of which may have been utilized for filming action sequences and additional shots. Movies like ‘Deep Cover,’ ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,’ ‘Gladiator II,’ and ‘Fountain of Youth’ were filmed on location.
Read More: Where Was Squid Game Season 3 Filmed?
