With recent news that the remainder of Netflix’s Marvel shows Jessica Jones and The Punisher have been cancelled as the studio’s partnership with Marvel soon comes to an end, the streaming giant will be running a bit low on original content to appeal comic book fans. The studio is now turning to an adapt the Image Comics series The Old Guard into a feature film starring Charlize Theron.
The comics are penned by Wonder Woman and Black Magick writer Greg Rucka and illustrated by Leandro Fernández. It's an action series is about a band of immortal soldiers whose existence and powers become exposed to the public. According to Deadline, Rucka will write the screenplay for Netflix, Gina Prince-Bythewood will direct the film lead by Charlize Theron and If Beale Street Could Talk star KiKi Layne Sounds badass!
Gina Prince-Bythewood is known best for her directorial work on The Secret Life of Bees, Beyond the Lights and for the pilot for Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger television series. She was previously attached to Sony’s Silver and Black film, that would have focused comic book heroines Silver Sable and Black Cat teaming up, until plans to split of the films in separate origin stories was announced. The Old Guard is an exciting move for the director if she’s no longer attached to the DC property.
Charlize Theron is well-known for showing strength on screen, with her characters and is no stranger to starring in action flicks such as Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde and The Fate and the Furious. With The Old Guard, Netflix users will get to see her play a soldier who has been around since ancient times and can bleed, break and experience pain, though cannot die – it’s quite reminiscent of Wolverine’s story.
So far, she will be joined by KiKi Layne, a 26-year-old actress who has only starred in Barry Jenkins’ Oscar nominated Moonlight follow-up. Layne will soon star in sci-fi thriller Captive State from Rise of the Planet of the Apes director and in Sundance drama Native Son. It will be exciting to see the actress as she takes on more roles and her involvement in The Old Guard is especially interesting.
Theron joins the likes of Hollywood biggies such as Sandra Bullock, Jake Gyllenhaal and Alfonso Cuarón, who have recently been a part of Netflix projects as the streaming service continues to expand their original content.
Besides The Old Guard, Charlize Theron is set to play Megyn Kelly in an untitled project about her and other woman who stood up to Fox News executive Roger Ailes’ sexual misconduct allegations. She will soon star in a rom-com with Seth Rogen called Long Shot about sparks between a president nominee and her speech writer who she once babysat, coming to theaters on May 3, 2019.
