The MustangstarMatthias Schoenaerts,AladdinvillainMarwan Kenzariand Italian actorLuca Marinellihave signed on to joinCharlize TheronandKiKi Laynein the action movieThe Old Guard, Collider has learned.
A co-production between Netflix and Skydance Media,The Old Guardfollows a small, covert group of immortal mercenaries who must fight to keep their team together when they discover the existence of a new immortal and their extraordinary abilities are exposed.
Theron is starring as The Old Guard’s 6000-year-old team leader Andromache of Scythia (aka Andy), while Layne will play the squad’s newcomer, Nile Freeman – a U.S. Marine who reluctantly joins the group after discovering that she can’t die. Schoenaerts will play a French warrior named Sebastian le Livre (aka Booker) who is hundreds of years old and weary of immortality. Kenzari will play Yusuf Al-Kaysani (aka Joe), who has been around since the Crusades, where he fought against Marinelli’s Nicolo di Genova (aka Nicky) – though in an intriguing twist, Joe and Nicky are now lovers.
Gina Prince-Bythewood(Beyond the Lights) is directing the film, which is based on the comic book series by authorGreg Ruckaand illustratorLeandro Fernández. Prince-Bythewood and Rucka co-wrote the screenplay.
Skydance’sDavid Ellison,Dana Goldberg, andDon Grangerare producing along with Theron,Beth KonoandAJ Dixfor Denver and Delilah, as well asMarc Evans. Rucka andStan Wlodkowskiwill serve as executive producers on the project.
Schoenaerts is one of the most talented actors of his generation, having made a name for himself with his ferocious turns inBullheadandRust and Bone. He recently starred oppositeTilda SwintonandJennifer Lawrencein the sexy thrillersA Bigger SplashandRed Sparrow, respectively. The Belgian actor will soon be seen inSteven Soderbergh’s Panama Papers dramaThe Laundromat,Terrence Malick’s historical dramaA Hidden Lifeand the indie movieThe Sound of Philadelphia. He’s represented by CAA.
Marinelli starred in the Italian crime filmDon’t Be Badand the Italian superhero movieThey Call Me Jeeg, though he’s best known to U.S. audiences for playing Primo, the lead Getty kidnapper inDanny Boyle’s FX seriesTrust.
Prior to playing Jafar inAladdin, Kenzari’s appeared inMurder on the Orient Express,Ben-HurandThe Mummy. He’s repped by ICM Partners.
