Alamy, Getty Images.
The Old Guard
by Greg Rucka & Leandro Fernández, published by Image Comics.MAGNET PLANE
FAST & FURIOUS 9
Oh, to be a fly on the wall of theFast &
Furiousbrainstorming sessions.
Somewhere in Vin Diesel’s HQ, with the
smell of petrol heavy in the air, there is
a whiteboard with the words scribbled:
“What if planes, but also magnets?”
PL I HIN-
A-PLANE
NO TIME TO DIE
James Bond has manned helicopters,
jetpacks, even spaceships throughout
the years. But never a planewithin
a plane. Here’s hoping he won’t be
attempting re-entry this time.HEDGEHOG-
POWERED PLANE
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
Dr Robotnik (Jim Carrey) uses one of
Sonic’s magic blue quills to power his
fl oating Egg Jet. Is he a supervillain or,
in fact, an environmentalist who’s found
a renewable alternative to jet fuel?[TREND REPORT]
No. / 8
STRANGE
PLANES
Brace, brace,
brace: this year’s
blockbusters are
unlikely to meet civil
aviation regulationsWORDS JOHN NUGENT
ILLUSTRATIONS BILL MCCONKEYLANE-WITHLANE
AIs this the surprise
superhero
hit of 2020?
No. /
Meet The Old Guard — a new
comic-book-movie adaptation
that Netfl ix is hoping will be
its answer to MarvelNETFLIX MAY HAVE lost the rights to produce
Marvel TV shows, but that hasn’t quashed
the streaming giant’s interest in comic-book
properties. Among the slew of adaptations on
their slate is The Old Guard, an original movie
set to arrive later this year.WHAT IS THE OLD GUARD?
It was originally published by Image Comics in
2017 as a fi ve-issue miniseries by writer Greg
Rucka and artist Leandro Fernández. A second
series, The Old Guard: Force Multiplied, began at
the end of 2019. Rucka is no stranger to screen
adaptations: he’s the co-creator of Stumptown
(now an ABC show starring Cobie Smulders) and
is also known for his extensive work with DC
Comics, which included the co-creation of the
current Kate Kane/Batwoman CW series.WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
The series focuses on a group of private
mercenaries who have one thing in common:
they’re all immortal. Led by 6,000-year-oldAndromache of Scythia (known as
‘Andy’), the group comes under
threat when a psychotic billionaire
discovers their secret and tries to
fi nd a way to replicate their power
for himself.WHO’S INVOLVED?
The movie adaptation began
development after only two issues of
the comic had been published, with
Rucka himself hired to write the
script. In 2018, Gina Prince-
Bythewood — previously attached to
Sony’s Spider-Man spin-off Silver &
Black — signed on to direct. Netfl ix
picked up distribution rights in 2019,
and announced that Charlize Theron
would play the lead role of Andy, as
well as co-producing. KiKi Layne (If
Beale Street Could Talk) has been
cast as Nile Freeman, a soldier in
Afghanistan who suddenly discoversshe can’t die and is recruitedbythe
team. Chiwetel Ejiofor has also
joined the cast, in a still unspecifi ed
role.COULD IT BE HUGE?
The idea of a team of mercenaries
fi ghting wars throughout the ages is
an irresistible high-concept, but
beyond that, the series is fi lled with
depth and pathos, as the characters
see their immortality as a curse as
much as a blessing. Andy is a complex
(anti)hero; there are twists and turns
and betrayals along the way; plus the
characters’ ability to survive pretty
much anything makes for some
inventive and entertaining action. It
amounts to a premise that should
work well on screen — we’ll fi nd out
just how well soon. SEB PATRICKTHE OLD GUARD IS COMING SOON TO NETFLIXPREVIEW