The Old Guard 2 Just Got An Incredible New Director

As noted by The New York Times, Gina Prince-Bythewood's work on "The Old Guard" was celebrated for being a rare example of a Black woman getting to spearhead a mainstream action flick. Now, she's passing the baton to another Black woman director: Victoria Mahoney has signed on to helm "The Old Guard 2" (per Entertainment Weekly).

A veteran of the small screen, Mahoney broke through in 2011 with the Zoë Kravitz-starring drama film "Yelling to the Sky," which competed at the Berlin International Film Festival. She then parlayed that fest success into a series of gigs on acclaimed shows like "Queen Sugar," "American Crime," and "Lovecraft Country." Lest anyone doubt she has the chops to handle high-octane set pieces, Mahoney's got another big credit to prove it: She made history as the second unit director of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," shooting stunts, action scenes, and additional footage (via KCRW).

Prince-Bythewood, who's staying on as a producer, said on Twitter, "it was exciting to disrupt the genre," and that the "Old Guard" franchise will be in good hands with "[her] girl" Mahoney. In her own statement, Mahoney confessed to being "genuinely blown backwards" by the first film's degree of craftsmanship. "I must've watched it over a hundred times, and as such, cannot communicate the true measure of my excitement," the director said. Cast members Theron, Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Veronica Ngo and Chiwetel Ejiofor are all returning.