Can a team of immortal mercenaries find purpose when their healing powers finally fade?
In short: The Old Guard follows a group of centuries-old warriors whose regenerative abilities are not permanent. When a new immortal emerges and a pharmaceutical villain threatens their existence, the team must confront the reality of their mortality while navigating the moral weight of their long, secret history of global influence.
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and based on Greg Rucka’s comic book series, the 2020 film introduces a team of mercenaries led by Andy, played by Charlize Theron. These individuals possess an unexplained ability to heal from fatal wounds, a power that allows them to survive centuries of combat. However, the film subverts traditional superhero tropes by revealing that this immortality is not absolute; eventually, the regenerative gift stops without warning, leaving the warriors vulnerable to permanent death.
The narrative centers on the discovery of a new immortal, Nile Freeman, a U.S. Marine who discovers her nature after surviving a throat-slitting incident in Afghanistan. Her emergence forces the group out of hiding, drawing the attention of Steven Merrick, a pharmaceutical executive intent on capturing them to exploit their biology for profit. The conflict is deeply personal, particularly regarding Quỳnh, an early companion of Andy who was sentenced for witchcraft 500 years ago and trapped in an iron maiden at the bottom of the sea, where she has been drowning continuously ever since.
Beyond the action, the film was noted for its portrayal of queer romance, specifically between the characters Joe and Nicky. Rucka insisted that this relationship be preserved from the source material, ensuring the film featured out gay superheroes whose romance was treated with the same narrative weight as traditional blockbuster pairings. While the film received generally positive reviews for its action and performances, it also sparked discussions about the transparency of streaming metrics. Netflix reported that 78 million households watched the film in its first four weeks, though critics noted the difficulty in verifying the success of such titles within the opaque operational model of the platform.
The film’s success led to a sequel, The Old Guard 2, directed by Victoria Mahoney and released in 2025. The original film concludes with the group tasking their ally, Copley, with using his intelligence background to guide their future missions, aiming to maximize their positive impact on the world. This transition from rogue mercenaries to strategic actors sets the stage for a franchise that balances high-stakes combat with the existential burden of living through the ages.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Old Guard (2020 film)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-the-old-guard-2020-film.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
