The Old Guard — When Immortality Feels Like a Curse, Not a Superpower
When The Old Guard uploaded on Netflix on July 2020, it was not just another comic adaptation, it was a mix of superhero action with a human drama. The Old Guard was directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, with Charlize Theron in the lead role, which made it unique. The story was not about saving the world, it was about surviving it. And in between the professional sword fighting and action sequences was a meditation on the emotional aspects of pain, purpose and the burden of living eternally in a world that forgets you.
Immortality with Blisters and Bruises
At its center, The Old Guard tells the story of a small group of ancient immortals. Each of the characters, Andy (Theron), Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts), Joe (Marwan Kenzari), and Nicky (Luca Marinelli), are warriors that have lived through multiple centuries of wars and witnessed humanity making the same mistakes. And although they are to be considered cursed, they are gifted with the secret of immortality. The are able to heal from any wound, whatever death they experience. And yet, they are still cursed to be living, walking, and ghostly memories of times gone by.
The Old Guard, unlike other stories about immortality, chooses not to romanticize the condition. Here, immortality is illustrated as weariness — the never-ending pain of being unable to truly rest, and the fatigue of watching your loved ones die, one after the other. Andy is the oldest of the group, and it is that exhaustion that she bears each time. Charlize Theron portrays her as a soldier so worn out, yet so obstinate that she simply refuses to die. Cavalier immortality is absent, as is the glow of fixation — only deep, faded scars remind one of the centuries they spent enduring.
When the group meets Nile (KiKi Layne), a young U.S. Marine who unexpectedly resurrects after dying in combat, she becomes a mirror of several, of the confused, enraged, and terrified ‘what she is becoming’ of. Nile’s arc serves not only as the point of entry, and the emotional core of the film itself. Through that arc, the film forces us to reconsider the definition of immortal — not limitless power, but limitless consequences.
The Weight of Time — And How It Shapes Souls
What stands out most in the film is its unique portrayal of time as an adversary and a mentor. This is seen in the character of Booker, who is tormented by the memory of his son’s death and the loss of his faith in the gift of eternal life. In this dark, eternal existence, the characters, Joe and Nicky, who are lovers that fought at opposite ends of the Crusades, serve as a beacon of hope. They are proof that even amidst eternal suffering, love can prevail.
Their confession scene, in which Joe sweetly describes Nicky as “the love of my life,” became one of the most talked-about moments of the film. This amazing scene was not only pivotal in the context of LGBTQ+ representation in an action blockbuster, but the intersection of romance and action in the blockbuster coupled with the real emotional depth of the scene made it even more powerful. The dialogue was non-political but simply poetic, sincere, and timeless. Users on Twitter and Reddit hailed this scene as “the most romantic monologue in an action film in years.”
Even in the face of grief and betrayal, the film expresses a love that evolves but never disappears. Each of the immortals carries their trauma, but together they constitute a family, and it is their much-needed bond. The irony is that, despite their immortality, they suffer a kind of emotional decay that is, in a sense, a deepest existential dread, the one that permeates the indifference of the world in which we live.
For Charlize Theron, like Andy, was more than another action role. By the time The Old Guard came out, she had already redefined what women could be in action cinema from Mad Max: Fury Road to Atomic Blonde. But Andy demanded something different: quiet despair wrapped in stoic rage.
For months, Theron worked with fight choreographers to perfect the intricate combination martial arts and weapon combat for the film, insisting that she would perform most of her stunts. Theron’s approach to Andy was characterized by the tendency to focus on restraint, not on spectacle. In interviews, she frequently stated that what attracted her to the role was Andy’s “emotional fatigue,” not her strength: “She’s tired of being the savior,” Theron explained during the press tour. “She’s seen too much to believe the world can change.”
Theron’s work behind the camera as a producer also added another layer. She advocated for the inclusion of Gina Prince-Bythewood, who was known for emotionally rich dramas such as Love & Basketball. This was a purposeful choice, as it is rare for a Black female filmmaker to direct big-budget, high-concept action films. This collaboration was transformative, as Prince-Bythewood’s sensibility shifted the focus from spectacle to intimacy, making every fight feel intensely personal.
Breaking the Mold — How Gina Prince-Bythewood Rewrote the Action Playbook
Gina Prince-Bythewood did not consider The Old Guard to be a superhero movie, but, rather, a “war story on survivors.” She frequently referred to the action film as one about “people who heal but are never healed.” This perspective helped to elevate the paint-by-numbers action film to one of surprising depth and soul.
The emotional “battle” choreography was executed in such a way that it was always serving a purpose. The ghosts of the characters were present in the film as each “hit” meant something, each “scar” defined a memory. The characters’ diminishing humanity was present in the “cold” modern-day shots and “warm” flashback scenes, and the fading “warm” cinematography as well. The cinematography “grounded” the film in a way that the “muted” colors and “handheld” shots reminded viewers that the characters were “immortal” and that the action depicted was “reality.”
Convincing studios that the film did not need traditional “superheroes” was its own set of challenges that Prince-Bythewood faced. She was given creative freedom from Netflix, which included the challenges of shooting “complex” action scenes in Morocco and the UK. The dedication to authenticity in practical stunts instead of CGI was one of the film’s triumphant accomplishments.
The Energy Before the Drop — Trailers, Fans, and Fevered Expectations
Fans were quickly captivated when the trailer dropped. Charlize Theron wielding a battle axe, brutal fight choreography, and a concept anchored in immortality? It appeared like the next advanced iteration of grounded superhero storytelling. Social media was ablaze with comparisons to John Wick and Highlander, and comic book enthusiasts lauded the narrative for its fidelity to Greg Rucka’s source material.
What people did not anticipate — and this was the biggest win for the movie — was its introspectiveness. Instead of unending explosions and flippant quips, it offered quietude in the middle of the fray — immortal warriors sharing wine, grief, and dark humor. This emotional core is what kept audiences returning. Within days of its release, The Old Guard was number one on Netflix in over 70 countries and was watched in over 70 million households in the first month.
Between the Cuts — What We Don’t See on Screen
The cast members’ chemistry became the heartbeat of the film as it was embraced behind the scenes. During interviews, KiKi Layne often recounted how Theron took her under her wing, imitating Andy’s mentorship on Nile. Layne reminisces, “It was life imitating art. Charlize pushed me to trust myself — just like Andy does for Nile.”
Sustained pain was an ironic consequence her character’s persistence. Theron suffered a debilitating hand injury which required surgery while shooting, thus the post-production. Even so, she continued shooting, an ironic homage to her character’s endurance.
By contrast, Matthias Schoenaerts, constructing Booker’s world-weariness, drew on personal experiences of burnout and isolation. “I know what it feels like to lose purpose,” he admitted in an interview. This made, especially in the film’s closing act, his performance profoundly genuine in which heartbreak and not malice, underpinned betrayal.
The Meaning Beneath Immortality
Even within its genre boundaries, The Old Guard is about legacy. It asks the philosophical question, If you were to live forever, what would you do with that time? Would you continue fighting for a better world, even when the world stops deserving it?
The Old Guard depicts wounds that never close and resurrecting as metaphors for trauma and the human instinct to move forward. The members of The Old Guard are not superheroes. They are metaphors for the endurance of people who continue to fight when the world collapses around them.
When Andy comes to the realization that she may finally be mortal, it is not fear that crosses her face, but relief. After centuries of survival, death for her is not a punishment, but it is peace.
The bravest thing the film suggests you can do, is to keep choosing life. It is the most painful thing you can do, but it is the most courageous. It is a choice you can make whether you are immortal or not.
The Old Guard was not merely an action spectacle. It was an elegy for those who continue to battle, even when their names go unremembered. That was why it resonated — not for its violence, but for its vulnerability. It left its audiences not merely thrilled, but reflective — how long would they continue to fight, if they, too, were immortal?