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The Eternal Gay Romance in Netflix's The Old Guard Has Fans in a Frenzy
Charlize Theron's newest action movie has one of the most touching declarations of queer love we've ever seen!
Charlzie Theron's supernatural action movie The Old Guard is the #1 movie on Netflix right now, and it's easy to see why! The beautiful gay romance is only one of the reasons why we're obsessed with the film, along with the rest of the world.
Theron plays Andy, the head of an elite (and immortal) team of mercenaries who fight crime around the world. When their supernatural ability to defy death is unearthed, the team must fight to stay alive, which is further complicated when they discover a new person with their abilities they must take in.
\u201cJust here to remind y'all that Charlize Theron is the baddest bitch in Hollywood #OldGuard\u201d— \ud835\udcb4\ud835\udccb\ud835\udc5c\ud835\udcc3\ud835\udcc3\ud835\udc52 \ud835\udce2\ud835\udcf7\ud835\udcee\ud835\udcea\ud835\udcf4\ud835\udcee\ud835\udcfb \ud835\udcf9\ud835\udcf5\ud835\udcfe\ud835\udcf0\ud83d\udc5f\ud83d\ude0c (@\ud835\udcb4\ud835\udccb\ud835\udc5c\ud835\udcc3\ud835\udcc3\ud835\udc52 \ud835\udce2\ud835\udcf7\ud835\udcee\ud835\udcea\ud835\udcf4\ud835\udcee\ud835\udcfb \ud835\udcf9\ud835\udcf5\ud835\udcfe\ud835\udcf0\ud83d\udc5f\ud83d\ude0c) 1594485146
It's an action-packed movie full of stunning cinematography, romance, drama, death-defying stunts, and the villain is even the guy who played Dudley in the Harry Potter movies! It's easy to see how it garnered such a massive audience so quickly.
Actors Marwan Kenzari and Luca Marinella play Joe and Nicky, two members of the immortal team who have an obvious bond between them. When they're captured, their captors try to deride them for it. "What is he, your boyfriend?" one asks Joe.
His reply is one of the most touching declarations of love we've ever seen in a movie.
There are a handful of powerful moments in the film featuring the duo that we won't spoil, but fans are clamoring for more. The Old Guard is based on a graphic novel of the same name and while a healthy bit of their romance is fleshed out in the movie, there's still so much to show.
In an interview with Vulture, Kenzari says it's important to remember that Joe and Nicky started out as enemies. "There are a couple great drawings in the [original graphic] novel that show them standing head-to-head on the battlefield after quite a bloody battle. It reminded me of epic scenes in Braveheart or Gladiator. It was important because of the fact that they are loves now—soul mates, symbiotically attached forever. It’s a strong message: the one on the opposite side becomes the other side of the heart that beats."
"Bringing it into the present, Luca and I focused on what the position of these characters would be in the group. They have this fuel, which is their love, that Andy doesn’t have and Booker’s character doesn’t have, and that creates that balance within this team, and you can only imagine what it would be like if Joe would lose Nicky. That would be such a disastrous impact on their being."
Maybe that's why Joe and Nicky's scenes together feel so passionate. Fans certainly picked up the spark and can't stop gushing:
\u201cthinking about the van scene in the old guard where joe + nicky are in captivity and joe talks about his love for nicky in the most poetic beautiful way ..\u201d— Natalie \u2661 (@Natalie \u2661) 1594592228
\u201cHe's not my boyfriend, he's all and he is more \ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d #OldGuard\u201d— Rhiene Keerati Strand-Reyes (@Rhiene Keerati Strand-Reyes) 1594371944
\u201cI love this man beyond measure and reason. He\u2019s not my boyfriend. He\u2019s all and he\u2019s more. You\u2019re an incurable romantic.\n\nI really really love them \ud83d\ude2d\u2763\n#OldGuard\u201d— anni \ud83e\udde3\u2764\ud83d\udc99/ BLM (@anni \ud83e\udde3\u2764\ud83d\udc99/ BLM) 1594577711
\u201cPig: Who are you? His boyfriend? Lol! \n#OldGuard\n\nJoe:\u201d— David (@David) 1594589865
\u201cBlessed . We are blessed . \nAn immortal gay couple in an Action Movie . \n#OldGuard\u201d— anni \ud83e\udde3\u2764\ud83d\udc99/ BLM (@anni \ud83e\udde3\u2764\ud83d\udc99/ BLM) 1594551430
Fans even uncovered that the moment's inclusion in the film was stipulated in creator Gregg Rucka's contract.
\u201cWe all cried during the \u201che\u2019s not my boyfriend\u201d speech in #TheOldGuard right? My favorite thing about this is how the screenwriter & comic book author stipulated in his contract that this scene was required to be in any film adaptation made. \u2763\ufe0f https://t.co/mwNmHfL5CB\u201d— ANGELA (@ANGELA) 1594587499
We've decided to stan forever, which feels particularly correct in this case...
The movie ends with a massive cliffhanger, so we can only hope for a sequel and much more to come from Joe, Nicky, and the rest of the gang!
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Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
