Queer Cinema Spotlight: The Old Guard
When Netflix released The Old Guard in 2020, it wasn’t just another action blockbuster. Directed by Gina Prince Bythewood and based on the comic series by Greg Rucka, the film redefined what it meant to tell superhero style stories with a bold, unapologetic embrace of queer love at its heart.
A Story of Immortals and Humanity
The film follows a secret group of immortal warriors, led by Andy (Charlize Theron), who have fought in humanity’s battles for centuries. When a new immortal, Nile Freeman (KiKi Layne), discovers her powers, she’s forced to join their ranks just as a powerful corporation hunts them down, desperate to exploit their abilities.
It’s a thrilling mix of action, fantasy, and moral dilemmas, but what truly sets The Old Guard apart is its representation.
Joe & Nicky: Love Beyond Time
In a genre where LGBTQ+ characters are often sidelined, The Old Guard gives us Joe (Marwan Kenari) and Nicky (Luca Marinelli), lovers who first met as enemies during the Crusades. Their bond has survived centuries, battles, and death itself.
One of the film’s most celebrated moments is the “van cineole declaring his love for Nicky after they’re captured:
“He’s not my boyfriend. He is all and he is more. He is my home.”
This tender yet powerful declaration broke barriers in mainstream cinema. For once, a same-sex romance wasn’t hidden, minimized, or used for shock value it was front and centre, treated with the same dignity as any epic love story.
One of the first major action blockbusters to showcase a queer romance as an integral part of the story. Directed by a Black woman filmmaker in a genre dominated by men. Inspired conversations about authentic queer representation in Hollywood, proving audiences crave diverse storytelling.
What’s Next
Fans won’t have to wait long the sequel, The Old Guard 2, is set to release in 2025, with Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Marwan Kenari, Luca Marinelli returning, alongside Uma Thurman and Henry Golding. The film promises to deepen the mythology and, hopefully, continue the heartfelt story of Joe & Nicky.
The Old Guard isn’t just about immortals who can’t diets about love that endures across centuries. A queer romance framed not as “different,” but as natural, powerful, and eternal.
