The Old Guard

The Old Guard is a 2020 American superhero film directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. It is based on the comic book of the same name.

The movie follows a pack of centuries-old immortal mercenaries who are able to heal from any wound. Just as they find another immortal has "awakened", they realize someone is onto their secret and have to fight for their freedom.

Summary
"Led by a warrior named Andy (Charlize Theron), a covert group of tight-knit mercenaries with a mysterious inability to die have fought to protect the mortal world for centuries. But when the team is recruited to take on an emergency mission and their extraordinary abilities are suddenly exposed, it’s up to Andy and Nile (Kiki Layne), the newest soldier to join their ranks, to help the group eliminate the threat of those who seek to replicate and monetize their power by any means necessary."

- Netflix Press Release

Plot
Andy is a 6,000-year-old immortal warrior and a member of an ancient group known as the Old Guard. Centuries ago, the Old Guard decided to help the helpless in the world, making an immortal life a life of purpose. The Old Guard gets an opportunity to rescue school kids, but it turns out to be a setup by the Immortals' nemesis, Copley.

In a village in Afghanistan, Nile is deployed and on patrol, looking for a high-value target (HVT). Nile finds the HVT and mortally wounds him; he, in turn, stabs Nile in the neck. Nile, amazingly, revives and heals in just a few minutes; while healing, memories of Immortals flash in Nile's mind. Members of the Old Guard, too, have visions of a new Immortal--Nile.

Andy rescues Nile from a U.S. government research and experimentation lab and takes her to the Old Guard's safe house just outside of Paris, France. There, Nile is introduced to the other Old Guard members: Booker, Joe and Nicky. Andy explains that they can die, but they never know when or why. Nile then recounts a nightmare she had of a past immortal named Quynh, who was captured during the witch trials and eventually entombed in a metal torture box called the Iron Maiden and dropped into the ocean. Andy has spent years since looking for Quynh, but could never find her.

While Andy takes Nile for a walk to discuss their immortality, the others are ambushed by Copley; Joe and Nicky are captured and taken to Merrick at his facility. Andy finds Booker severely wounded. While he heals, she fights off intruders in the main church. When they escape to a former hideout of Andy's, she finds her wounds are not healing, signaling the end of her immortality.

Merrick and his team proceed to experiment on Joe and Nicky to try and find out how their immortality works.

In an attempt to rescue Joe and Nicky, (Joe--he is hostage; who is this?), Nile and Andy find Copley where after a short time Nile decides to leave. When confronting Copley, Booker betrays Andy before realizing she is injured and isn’t healing. They are both captured by Merrick's men.

Nile changes her mind and returns to Copley’s, intending to backup Booker and Andy but finds them missing. She confronts Copley, who explains how he watched his wife die from ALS, an incurable disease. He explains how he’s traced Andy through history and descendants of the people she saves have gone on to do great things. He also tells Nile that Andy is no longer immortal. He then tells her where she can find Merrick and the other immortals. In a one-man assault, Nile finds the members of the Old Guard and rescues them, telling Andy she needs her help, immortal or not.

In pursuit of Merrick, Andy goes after him herself, and finds out that Merrick has gone to his penthouse. During the assault, Merrick flees; however, it is only a ruse, and Merrick confronts Andy and Nile and tries to kill Andy. Nile comes to Andy's rescue and pushes Merrick out the window. Merrick lands on a car.

After discussing Booker’s betrayal, the Old Guard decides that he will be exiled from the group for a century. Nile decides it is best to leave her old life behind. Noting that Copley has tracked the history of the Old Guard over a century and a half, Andy recruits him to clean up their tracks and find them jobs that will suit them. With little to do, and with no choice, he accepts, simply stating, "I'd be honored."

In a post title (pre-credit scene) six months later, it is revealed that Quynh is still alive and has found Booker in his home in Paris.

Cast and Characters

 * Charlize Theron as Andy
 * Kiki Layne as Nile
 * Matthias Schoenaerts as Booker
 * Marwan Kenzari as Joe
 * Luca Marinelli as Nicky
 * Chiwetel Ejiofor as Copley
 * Harry Melling as Merrick
 * Van Veronica Ngo as Quynh
 * Lee S. Hwak Zhang as Sadeq

Awards
Critics Choice Super Awards (2021)


 * Best Superhero Movie (nominated)
 * Best Actor in a Superhero movie - Chitwetel Ejiofor (nominated)
 * Best Actress in a Superhero movie - Kiki Layne (nominated)
 * Best Actress in a Superhero movie - Charlize Theron (nominated)

People's Choice Awards, USA (2020)


 * Favorite Female Movie Star - Charlize Theron (nominated)
 * Favorite Action Movie Star - Charlize Theron (nominated)
 * Favorite Action Movie (nominated)
 * Favorite Motion Picture (nominated)

The Harvey Awards (2020)


 * Best Adaption from Comic Book/Graphic Novel (nominated)

See More


The Old Guard