The Old Guard has touched down on Netflix and audiences are lapping up the action flick, with many people pouring adoration on Charlize Theron's performance as the immortal Andy. This has led to many fans discovering the comic books on which the movie is based, and discovering that there's one major difference that will inevitably lead to the sequels being very different.

Warning: Spoilers for The Old Guard on Netflix ahead.

As is made clear in The Old Guard, Theron's Andy is no longer able to regenerate like the other members of the eponymous superhero squad. Her immortality has reached its end, and therefore her confrontation with Merrick could be fatal. Luckily, she survives, but her life is now very much in the balance.

This is, perhaps surprisingly to non-comic book readers, a major change from the source material. In writer Greg Rucka and artist Leandro Fernndez's original work, Andy does not lose her immortality but remains able to regenerate after death.

"The one concern that we had in developing it, was, 'Is there enough jeopardy and stakes?'" the movie's director Gina Prince-Bythewoodtold Esquire while discussing the change. "They can die, and they never know when they're going to, but adding that extra layer gave us that jeopardy for her character."

The big question now concerns what that means for The Old Guard 2, should that sequel happen. In an interview with GamesRadar+, Prince-Bythewood said that "it'll be based on the graphic novel" still, but added no more details on Andy's fate. With Andy's loss of immortality playing such a major role in the first film, surely the writers' fo the sequel will have to address the situation which will naturally lead to some further differences to the graphic novel.

For the most part, The Old Guard remains a faithful adaptation of the source material with only minor differences. Rucka, after all, wrote the script for the movie and put certain stipulations in his contract about scenes that had to appear in the filmed version, including one where Joe and Nicky declare their love for each other.

One minor difference concerns the character Quynh, seen at the end of the movie. In the comics, her name is Noriko it appears the change happened as the actress Van Veronica Ngo is Vietnamese, unlike in the comics, where the character is Japanese. CIA agents Copley is also white in the comics, whereas Chiwetel Ejiofor plays him in the movie.

There are also some timeline discrepancies, as Copley only discovers that Andy's actions are doing good in the world in the second comic run. Perhaps, then, the movie has acted as a spoiler for future comics and will see Andy lose her immortality sometime soon? We'll have to wait and see. In the meantime, read more about The Old Guard ending with quotes from Prince-Bythewood on what to expect.

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The Old Guard makes one change from the comic books that will affect the sequels in a massive way - GamesRadar+ AU

Liverpool's win over Aston Villa on Sunday pushed the club's point total to 89 with five matches remaining. Immortality, going down as the team to finish with the most points in a single Premier League campaign (and they used to play 42 matches!) is now well and truly on the table.

Already, Liverpool's total of 89 points has pushed them past the following all-timers:

Those are some of the finest teams in league history, and Jurgen Klopp's side have already surpassed them with five games to spare. The next goal insight: Man City's Centurions.

City racked up 100 points during the 2017/18 campaign. With five matches left to play, this Liverpool side could end the season with an almost unfathomable 104 points.

After a rocky return to play -- the game that shall not be discussed in Manchester, the plodding performances against Everton and Villa -- it remains an open question whether or not Klopp's side will match or exceed City's record-breakers.

So we asked our writers: Will Liverpool break the record?

Kristian Walsh: I genuinely cant work out Brighton. Are they good? Are they bad? I really like Neal Maupay, and not just because he absolutely fronted Arsenals faux fume after accidentally injuring Bernd Leno. He takes a lot of shots, and Im all for a striker who takes a lot of shots -- providing theyre in decent areas (and judging by his xG, they are).

A lot will depend on Liverpool however, and I think that will be a recurring theme throughout. If Liverpool are motivated, and if Liverpool play their regular game, then they should. Brighton are better than their position suggests -- or so the underlying numbers tell us -- but a team with three or four changes still scrapes through. Liverpool win 2-1.

Joel Rabinowitz: I suspect this one might be a fair bit trickier than many many expect. Brighton are a better side than their league position would suggest, and their expected points total places them somewhere in between Arsenal and Tottenham, as opposed to the teams scrapping for relegation below them. They also made things really quite difficult for Liverpool at Anfield earlier this season, and it required two Van Dijk headers from set pieces to break them down.

All that said, I think Liverpool will have enough to get the three points, but I fully expect theyll be made to work hard for it. Liverpool win 1-0

Dan Morgan: I think this game will come down a lot to team selection, and I expect Liverpool to be strong. There is an argument that Klopp picked his Aston Villa team with his Brighton team in mind, and therefore I expect to see more control in midfield areas especially.

Brighton were strong and well setup when they came to Anfield, but their situation is different now. I think theyll take more risks against this Liverpool side and therefore could be opened up if Liverpool are firing. All that said, Im going for a Liverpool win, and of course Bobby will score away. Liverpool win 3-1

Ollie Connolly: Im with Joel. I think this will be a tough game, particularly with the manager likely to rotate the side. The most notable element of Liverpools post-pause play has been the lack of rhythm when the main first Xi is not in the lineup. Chopping and changing -- a Minamino for Firmino here, Keita for Wijnaldum there -- will inevitably distort the tempo we saw during the home game against Crystal Palace. Performances are likely to take on that Aston Villa-vibe, with excellent 10-minutes bursts surrounded by a heaping of blah. Still: I expect a moment of individual brilliance will be enough to pick up three points. Liverpool win 1-0

Josh Williams: I'd be surprised if Liverpool concede. Brighton are averaging roughly 13 shots per goal in the Premier League this season which is worsened by only Norwich City. They aren't very clinical while Liverpool are the opposite, scoring every 7.1 shots. If Klopp fields his first-choice XI, I'd expect his attack to have enough to find the net at least once, although it's worth noting that the absence of one integral player tends to drastically impact the effectiveness of the Reds in the final third. Liverpool win 2-0

David Hughes: Brighton have avoided relegation whilst implementing a new philosophy at the club under Potter, that will represent a decent season for them. Now, with very little to play for, I dont expect them to cause Liverpool too many issues. Theyre winless against any of the current top six this season (D4, L6), failing to score in six of those matches. There was also an obvious lack of ambition in their 3-0 home defeat to Manchester United last week, a game in which they registered just two shots on target. Liverpool win 3-0

KW: Burnley. The only side who can score against Alisson Becker from a corner, with an assist from the wind (ps: it was also a foul). Actually, Ive just realised weve been saying Alisson hasnt conceded a goal from outside the box in the league since joining Liverpool. Does this not count? Im very confused.

It doesnt happen this time anyway. Klopp plays the same team he did against Aston Villa, it toils for 60, and then the subs change it against the tiring visitors. Again. It wont be pretty. Liverpool win 1-0.

JR: With it being at Anfield and Burnley not really having much to play for at this point, this is probably Liverpools most favourable remaining fixture. That isnt to say Burnley cant put up a decent fight and pose some degree of threat from set piece situations, but Liverpool shouldnt (in theory) have too many problems getting the job done here. Theyll really want to keep that 100% Anfield record going, too. Liverpool win 3-0

DM: Hello darkness my old friend. No matter how good a champion you are, or how bad a season theyve had, theres always something about Burnley visiting which makes your stomach knot. Last season was one of the strangest in living memory with tornado conditions, clearly obstructive goals standing and an Adam Lallana cameo nobody saw coming.

It will be a trickier game than many anticipate, and team selection will be interesting if not crucial. All that said: Liverpool win 2-0

OC: There is a case to be made both ways: Burnley, the bastion of consistency, could turn up looking to muck things up. If Liverpools concentration wains or Jurgen Klopp rotates, theres the formula for a dull draw or a sneaky upset. But at some point, this Burnley side is going to be running on fumes. Theyve been unable to properly rotate given the financial/management difficulties at the club. Being asked to play three matches a week with a squad of only 15 real first-teamers is damn near impossible. Even if Liverpool arent all the way up for this one, I think they cruise to a win. Liverpool win 4-0

JW: Burnley have a knack for securing results despite performing to a relatively average standard in most contents, but they usually need a clean sheet to do so. Keeping Liverpool quiet will be tough and on the attacking side of the game, all but one of the goals that Dyche's team have scored since the restart have derived from set-pieces. The Reds are highly capable when defending corners and freekicks, and Burnley's aerial raid doesn't usually work that well against Liverpool largely due to the dominance of Virgil van Dijk. I can't see the Clarets scoring, but I reckon Klopp's men will have enough - especially at Anfield - to bag at least one themselves. Liverpool win 2-0

DH: Its probably gone under the radar for most, but Burnely are decent again. At the time of writing, they have lost just one of their previous 11 Premier League matches and have an outside shot of securing European football next season. They dont tend to do well against the leagues best on the road though, and you dont face much better than Liverpool at Anfield. They have lost six of their eight away matches vs sides in the top ten and conceded two or more goals in six of those games too. Therefore I anticipate if Liverpool get one, then the floodgates will open. Liverpool win 4-0

KW: Im just imagining the alternate scenario I concocted in my head around February time. Liverpool, champions, and 35 games without a league defeat, head to the home of the Invincibles -- well, sort of, they actually achieved that at Highbury -- in a face-off which would have Sky Sports going montage crazy.

But then, you know. Watford. COVID-19. So Liverpool play out a 1-1 draw to a bunch of red seats, leading to people asking if Arsenal can challenge under Mikel Arteta next season (spoiler: they cant). 1-1 draw

JR: The rational side of me says Liverpool should absolutely be able to go to the Emirates and win, because theyre a far, far superior side to Arsenal in every single department. Theres a very good reason why there are 40 points separating the two sides, after all.

However, for some reason, I have a feeling this might be a bit of a banana skin. After their dismal start to the restart, Arsenal have been much improved over the past few games and looked uncharacteristically resolute in their impressive away victory against Wolves at Molineux.

As much as deep structural issues remain throughout the side, they do still possess genuine quality up front capable of causing almost any team problems if they click, and while theyve only won 12 games from 33 in the league so far this season, they dont actually lose as often as youd think (especially at home). So, as pessimistic as it might sound, Im going for a point here. 2-2 draw

DM: This is interesting for the simple reason of Arsenals performance at Wolves. A 2-0 win away to Nuno Espirito Santos men should not be scoffed at, nor should Mikel Artetas switch to a 3-4-3 shape, with Eddie Nketiah central, Bukayo Saka right and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang right of a front three.

Should he keep that shape, it will either cause Liverpool a raft of problems on turnovers or leave the home side wide open when the Reds retrieve the ball. I have a feeling it might be the latter. In my opinion, if Liverpool score one, Arsenal will implode. Liverpool win 4-0

OC: The start of a tricky double-header. The two questions for me: Will Klopp play his strongest XI in both the Arsenal game and the Chelsea one that follows? Do Arsenal have something tangible to play for? I think the answers are yes and yes.

Arsenals forward line is concerning. Liverpool have been off-the-boil defensively since the restart. Theyve been consistently overwhelmed in the middle of the pitch and have struggled with individuals straying out of position, most notably in transition -- Everton, Man City, Aston Villa. Thats where Arsenal can be ruthless.

With that said, Mikel Artetas team have some almighty defensive challenges of their own. A back-and-forth game would favour Liverpool. Liverpool win 3-1

JW: This one could be tricky. Arteta seems very smart but what will he demand from his players on the day? A high defensive line? Playing out from the back? If so, Liverpool are likely to benefit considering the error-prone defenders that are contracted to Arsenal. The Gunners tend to give away gifts to opposing players close to goal. In attack, Arsenal are surprisingly quiet with Norwich City and Aston Villa averaging more shots per 90 this season, but they do have great quality when it comes to finishing. Liverpool's uninspired performances of late still offer enough to beat most opponents, but Arsenal have enough to punish the Reds if they turn up to the Emirates with the wrong attitude. A lot will be determined by which team scores first in this one. 1-1 draw

DH: Arteta may be early into his tenure as Arsenal boss, but he is already learning some valuable lessons that are paying dividends on the pitch. One of which is protecting the erratic David Luiz with not one but two additional centre-backs. The teams switch to a 3-4-3 after the Brighton defeat looks to be boosting their capacity at both ends of the pitch in recent weeks. They still have a long way to go, but with European places still to play for, I am expecting this one to be tough for the Reds. Draw 2-2

KW: So I make that 96 points with two to play. Eeeeesh. And there will also be the added incentive of Liverpool lifting the Premier League trophy (as Dan mentions) as well as completing the 19-game set. Liverpool are not NOT winning this one. Thats it. Thats my analysis. Liverpool win 2-1.

JR: Chelsea are a mad team under Frank Lampard. Theyve got it in them to beat Manchester City, then theyll go and lose to West Ham the following game, before comfortably dispatching Watford. You just dont know which version will turn up on any given occasion.

If, by the time this one rolls around, Liverpool have beaten Burnley, then theyll be on the brink of becoming the first team in Premier League history to win all 19 home games in a season. That will simultaneously serve as an enormous incentive for Liverpool, but you can imagine Chelsea would absolutely love to be the ones to stop them doing it right at the death. Hopefully my prediction proves to be wrong, but I have a sneaking feeling they might succeed in doing just that. 1-1 draw

DM: Liverpool are lifting the Premier League trophy, Liverpool are lifting the Premier League trophy, Liverpool are lifting the Premier League trophy, Liverpool are lifting the Premier League trophy, Liverpool are lifting the Premier League trophy, Liverpool are lifting the Premier League trophy, Liverpool are lifting the Premier League trophy. Liverpool win 2-1

OC:I consider myself the Generalissimo of the Frank-Lampard-is-a-fraudulent-manager support group, but Lampards side has had some undeniably impressive performances against big clubs this season. While they lack the consistency to sustain at a high level, theyre capable of brilliant one-off displays. There's just something about Chelsea at Anfield, you know. Liverpool losing their unbeaten home record and then raising the title would feel wrong, so I'll plump for an up-and-down score draw. 1-1 draw

JW: Liverpool have faced Chelsea three times already this season, struggling performance-wise every time. The first meeting in the Premier League was decided by the set-piece expertise of Klopp's outfit, with both goals coming from freekicks in a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge. The Blues are vulnerable from those situations, with Frank Lampard stating recently that the solution lies with signing 'taller players'. Chelsea are difficult to outplay and they have enough to prevent and hurt Liverpool on their day, especially considering they are still fighting for something meaningful this season. It's Liverpool's final match of the season at Anfield, but it could be the first one that doesn't result in three points being secured. 1-1 draw

DH: This game is by far the hardest to call. With the title in touching distance - literally, its unclear what the psyche of the Liverpool players will be. They put on a show vs Crystal Palace on the eve of their title confirmation at Anfield two weeks ago, and they could well repeat that here. However, should their interest waiver to events after the final whilst, then Chelsea could be the side to ruin their perfect Premier League home record (providing its still intact). All three meetings between the two this season have been settled by fine margins, I expect the same here. Liverpool 2-1

KW: Based on the underlying numbers, Newcastle should be bottom. The fact they sit in mid-table, safe from relegation, is an absolute miracle; one in the eye of all us data boys and girls (although it will bite them terribly next season if they dont splurge 500million if/when the takeover happens). Even since the restart, they are scoring more than they would be expected to, and conceding fewer.

But I just think one last lap will be harder than any of us might imagine. It will be the sixth game in 21 days after a prolonged three-month absence from competitive football. You would imagine Arsenal and Chelsea would be relatively high intensity games, and Newcastle have a few extra days off.

It is going to be a coin flip. 0-0 draw and Liverpool end exactly on 100 points.

JR: St James Park is very rarely an easy place to go, and on the sly Newcastle have been one of the standout teams in the league since the restart, producing a handful of really impressive performances and results (albeit against relatively low quality opposition).

The final day of the season can often produced the unexpected, but if Liverpool have the 100-point mark in their sights by this point, I think theyll give absolutely everything they have to at least equal Citys record and end this historic season with a flourish, even if they cant quite beat it, which would still represent a phenomenal achievement. Liverpool win 4-1 and end on exactly 100 points.

DM: Its after the Lord Mayors show slightly, and lets not forget Newcastle United are not a bad side. The Arsenal and Chelsea dates mean that the likelihood is well be stringent in selection in those games which could lead to mass changes here. It wont finish on a complete low, but I can see this as the only game in which we drop points. Liverpool draw 1-1 and end on exactly 102 points.

OC: By this point, I project Klopp will be happy to cede to a near-complete rotation of the starting XI. If ever there was time to give a full 90 minutes to the likes of Curtis Jones, Kai-Jana Hoever, and Harvey Elliott, it's in a dead rubber at the end of the season against a solid if unspectacular Newcastle team. Rotating would allow Klopp to give a little bit more rest to the key starters ahead of what will be a rapid turn around time before next season. Ideally, the rotation breaths a bit of life into a side that should/might/could be coming off the Arsenal-Chelsea double-header and having raised the trophy at Anfield. A Keita-Minamino double sends Liverpool into next season on a high. Liverpool win 2-1 and end on exactly 102 points.

JW: It's reasonable to suggest that this clash won't be the most competitive considering Newcastle are likely to be positioned in midtable. The Toon have defied logic this season, as their performances simply haven't aligned with their results. Steve Bruce has managed to refine a playing style that largely involves being dominated while retaining a notable threat on the break thanks to the qualities of Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron to name but two of the speedy attackers for the Magpies. If Liverpool manage counterattacks and set-pieces, United are unlikely to score, but the Reds will have to find a way through the lowest of blocks. This could be a boring 1-0 but depending on the focus of Bruce's team, it could very easily become a 4-0 drubbing. Liverpool win 2-0 and end on exactly 100 points.

DH: After disliking Newcastle for almost the entirety of the season, I have to hold my hands up and say they have earned my respect. All the underlying numbers point to them being one of the worst sides in the league, but then mind you, they also rank Man City as the best! Ultimately though, Newcastle have done a good job of honing in on their few strengths and grinding out some big results. Theyll likely sit back and frustrate Liverpool (and everyone watching) for 90 minutes whilst trying to get something on the break. Or they may fancy their chances from a set-piece - at the time of writing, they have scored as many set-piece goals as Liverpool with 12, which is impressive. But I suspect Liverpool may want to finish with a bang here and I back them to do it. Liverpool 3-1 and end on exactly 102 points.

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Liverpool are five games from immortality, but there are six special ways to achieve it - Liverpool.com

With Netflix releasing a movie based on the original story by writer Greg Rucka and artist Leandro Fernandez on July 10, 2020, it is worth taking a look back atThe Old Guard Vol. 1 Opening Fire. Joined by colorist Daniela Miwa and letterer Jodi Wynne, Rucka and Fernandezs story is an action-filled tale taking on themes that are as old as humanity: death and the hope of immortality.

Writing

The strength of Ruckas writing has always been the grounded characters he places in his stories. In this case, soldiers Andy, Booker, Joe, Nicky, and newcomer Nile, a group of nigh-immortal humans and guns for high. When they are betrayed by their business associate Copley (and later we find out, one of their own) to the villainous Steve Merrick, a self-described ruthless big pharma businessman who hopes to unlock the secret of immortality by kidnapping these soldiers, they all figure out exactly what it is that theyre living for.

Honestly, the villain of this story is pretty forgettable. Think of Merrick as any douchey, roided up Vin Diesel antagonist. Hes a pretty two-dimensional villain, but this story isnt about a compelling villain, but the struggle with immortality for those for whom life has ceased to be meaningful. As time marches on and loved ones pass on, what is left but their fading memories, followed by more of the same? This is what makes Ruckas tale compelling, learning to live, and find meaning in a world that one has grown tired of.

Art

Fernandezs art is serviceable for the story. He certainly never shies away from blood, but he doesnt distract from the thematic heart of the story by overemphasizing the gory parts of the story. A story like this, with a bunch of nigh-immortals who easily heal from their injuries, particularly lends itself to highlighting the wounds and injuries of the protagonists. However, while Fernandez doesnt shy away from portraying the injuries of the storys protagonists, he relies on the use of blood splatter and shading that communicates the extent of the injuries without focusing an undue amount of attention on them.

Its not that the grotesqueness of their injuries are never shown, but for such an action-heavy comic, Fernandezs portrayal of the violence inherent in the story is pleasantly restrained in a way that services the story.

Coloring

Miwa relies on a muted color palette, which fits the tone of the story.Old Guard is about a world that has lost its shine for its protagonists. Theyve lived long enough to long for the endless cycle of life to end. Of course, Miwa, along with Fernandez, should be credited with the restraint they show in portraying the violence in this comic. Rather than highlight every bit of brain and viscera that the protagonists injuries lend themselves to, they opt for something that services the story in a modest way.

Lettering

The lettering in this issue is great. Wynne doesnt add any flourishes to necessarily distinguish one characters dialogue from the other, but whether shes lettering dialogue in person, over the radio, or narrated voice-over, she keeps the story moving.

One part of the lettering I particularly enjoyed was the sound effects. There is a memorable scene where Andy and Booker get into a fight and start shooting each other. Nile, in her frustration, decides to put an end to the fight.

I may have laughed out loud when I flipped the page to this scene! Great use of sound effects here, and again, while I dont show it here, Andys and Bookers injuries arent shown in overly graphic detail.

Conclusion

As a long-time fan of Ruckas work at DC, it was a pleasure to read some of his creator-owned material. While dealing with extraordinary circumstances and weighty themes, Rucka keeps the story grounded in the lives of his characters. I will say, per my comments about Merrick earlier, that I am afraid that Old Guard will receive theBloodshot treatment in its film debut.Bloodshot was certainly a serviceable film, but still a relatively shallow Vin Diesel action flick. My fear is that the thematic richness of the story will be lost in a film adaptation, but well have to wait and see.

What did you think ofThe Old Guard Vol. 1 Opening Fire? What did you think of the Netflix movie? Tell us in the comment below!

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Review: THE OLD GUARD VOL. 1 OPENING FIRE Do You Want to Live Forever? - Monkeys Fighting Robots

While you might think a film where most of the cast are immortal would have some trouble with creating dramatic tension, Netflixs The Old Guard certainly manages to keep you guessing until the final moments.

But what does the films shock ending mean for any follow-ups and if there is an Old Guard sequel, what would the cast like to see their characters get up to?

Luckily for you, weve done the legwork to find out in that we asked some of the cast and The Old Guards director, Gina Prince-Bythewood, all of whom seemed keen for more adventures with these characters.

If the story continues its absolutely up to an audience, Prince-Bythewood told RadioTimes.com, adding that screenwriter Greg Rucka (who also wrote the graphic novel The Old Guard is based on) has plenty of ideas.

I know that Greg Rucka has always envisioned his story, when it was a graphic novel, as a trilogy, and actually the second part of his comic book just came out. So I know where the story goes, and its pretty great. So if an audience wants it, theres absolutely more story to tell.

Check out our analysis of the ending alongside the casts wishes for a sequel below, but beware there are some serious spoilers right after the jump.

Matthias Schoenaerts in The Old Guard on Netflix

Big spoilers follow, so dont read on if you havent seen The Old Guard.

The film concludes with our unkillable heroes free from the clutches of evil pharmaceutical mogul Merrick (Harry Melling) and beginning a new quest to right wrongs with the help of Chiwetel Ejiofors Copley but there have been a few consequences from their adventure.

Longtime team leader Andy (Charlize Theron) is now mortal having lost her ability to heal rapidly and return from death, while Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts) has been exiled from the group for the next hundred years following his betrayal earlier in the movie.

And 6 months after the events of the film, Booker is joined by fellow immortal Quynh, a former friend of Andys who (in earlier flashbacks in the film) was captured, imprisoned in an iron maiden and thrown in the sea to drown, revive then die again for all eternity. Andy looked for Quynh for years but never found her, worrying that the ordeal would drive her old friend mad and now that shes somehow returned, it may be that Andys fears will be realised

Gina Prince-Bythewood on set with Kiki Lane and Charlize Theron (Netflix)

Quynh has reared her head and that causes some issues, absolutely, Prince-Bythewood told us though she wouldnt be drawn on exactly what trouble an insane immortal could cause in the sequel, instead directing fans to the source material.

I would just base it on the graphic novel because again, we have to see if an audience wants it, and then something will be written, she said.

In a sequel, perhaps we could expect the down-at-heel Booker to join forces with Quynh, or try and get back in with his friends by telling them about her plans, assuming shes out for revenge. Meanwhile, the main team would presumably begin their work with Copley (Ejiofor) directing them to serious threats around the world.

For a more specific guide as to what might happen, fans might be wise to check out Ruckas Old Guard graphic novel sequel when its released in full in September.

Chiwetel Ejiofor stars in The Old Guard on Netflix

Like Prince-Bythewood, the Old Guard cast say its up to audiences whether we see more stories in this world, with any sequels determined by just how many people stream the film in the coming days and weeks.

Still, they all seem very excited at the prospect of a sequel, noting that there are plenty of new directions for the story to go in.

I mean I definitely think theres potential for that, because the central characters and central idea are so fascinating, and can occupy all sorts of different times and periods and ideas, Chiwetel Ejiofor (pictured) told RadioTimes.com.

So I think it lends itself to that in that way, and I think that these characters are really interesting. And I think that theres more story to tell in terms of their narrative. Theres a lot more to explore.

And I think philosophically theres more to explore about this psychology, and what the nature of immortality is, and how that reflects on what ones relationship is to being alive. Theres a lot to look at really.

Harry Melling stars in The Old Guard on Netflix

Going off what Chiwetel said, the theme of immortality is such a huge one, added co-star Harry Melling.

Theres so many avenues you can go down and the characters are so fascinating. I really hope it has more to go.

Marwan Kinzari (who plays Joe in the film) was also interested in a sequel, though noted that current filming restrictions may have to be lifted before he and the other cast could think of getting back into their immortal groove.

Marwan Kenzari in The Old Guard on Netflix

We dont know. We live in a complicated world, he told RadioTimes.com. And I can only hope for things to clear up, and for this huge storm to pass over us all, and to have somehow a world where we can all be creative again.

And in this case, the Old Guard has a lot to offer. So I would be happy to be part of the second one most definitely. That would be a no-brainer for me.

Its a fantastic world, and theres a lot to explore, he concluded.

THE OLD GUARD (L to R) KIKI LAYNE as NILE, LUCA MARINELLI as NICKY, CHARLIZE THERON as ANDY

As we say, it seems likely that the Quynh/Booker storyline will play out in a sequel, and the films director suggests that the gang will face more real-life threats as well in their quest for justice.

In the graphic novel theres a very grounded story tackling a problem within the world, which again brings more villains that are not with the conceit of immortality, Prince-Bythewood said. So theres actually a really cool balance between those two.

And its possible some story beats cut from the first film will reappear in a sequel, with Prince-Bythewood keen to see more of the historical romance between Nicky (Luca Marinelli) and Joe (Marwan Kenzari).

In the graphic novel, I have to say [I love] how Joe and Nicky met, she said. We talk about it in the film, but in the graphic novel you actually see it, and it was in one of Gregs earlier drafts. The film was feeling so full we just had to cut it.

THE OLD GUARD (L to R) MARWAN KENZARI as JOE and LUCA MARINELLI as NICKY in THE OLD GUARD. Cr. AIMEE SPINKS/NETFLIX 2020

But that is a pretty incredible sequence of those two in the Crusades. And they keep killing each other and coming back to life as everyone around them is dying and staying dead. And that final moment after the third or fourth time that theyve killed each other, they just look at each other and they know that theyve met their soulmate.

Its pretty great, she added. And I hope that if theres a sequel, that gets to be illustrated.

The Old Guard is streaming on Netflix now check out our lists of the best TV shows on Netflix and the best movies on Netflix, or see what else is on with our TV Guide

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The Old Guard ending explained will there be a sequel? - RadioTimes

Sylvia is a writer nearing the end of her life. Widowed with two daughters whom she loves but is distant with, with over thirty novels written to her name, and with one last book in her, she is making peace with her death, the end of it all. Only theres someone in her life who wont let her go; a character in her mind, who has been in nearly every story shes written, a nameless man who has been with her almost every step of the way. And if she dies without putting him in a book for real, then he will die along with her, trapped in her skull. Thus begins Jo Waltons Or What You Will, a book about books, about art, about writing and creation, and how in the act of creating, we work towards immortality.

This is a delightful, odd book, and I was by turns fascinated, enthralled, and a little confused, but ultimately happy with the twists and turns of the text. Walton combines many of her passions into this story, and you will find yourself at times going on digressions with her, as our unnamed narrator delves into the importance and meaning of various works of art, restaurants and ways of preparing food, the creative works of Renaissance Italy, as well as what can almost be described as Shakespearean fanfic, of characters from Twelfth Night and The Tempest finding new life after their endings in Sylvias last book shes working on, a fictionalized version of Shakespeares Italy, where characters from both works interact, love, cherish, hate, and exist together. If you think there are layers to this story, dont worry, there absolutely are. But while the meta-commentary can be a lot, and the digressions entertaining but seemingly without reason, the two combine artfully. For there is a third narrative here, and its of our unnamed protagonist inside Sylvias head telling us, the reader of this book, about Sylvia. In his gambit to immortalize her, he must tell us of her, as much as she finds it irksome when he does.

Through him we meet Sylvia, a writer of science fiction and fantasy, who has opinions on Worldcons, who is not close with her remaining family save one member, who has been through hell in a specific way, and found love in the climb out. Sylvia, who our unnamed protagonist loves and cherishes and is terrified of, for she is god to him, and can erase him with but a thought. Sylvia, who is dying and wont tell him. Sylvia, who knows his plan to smuggle her into her own story, who knows he is doing so because he wants the same for himself, and humors him because why not? I found this one of the strongest aspects of the book itself, for after affairs of state in Thalia (the imagined Italy of Sylvias book), and after the lessons on art and architecture, after all that, is a writer who is trying to come to terms with her own end, and the beloved character of her imagination who wont let her go. It develops into the beating heart of the novel, and soon, all these strands began to braid together in a final gambit to save the god who has meant so much to him, and in doing so, maybe save himself.

Or What You Will is the sort of book that may be doing a bit too much at any given time, but youd never fault it for that. As a treatise on art, and the things we make, and the love we put into making them as we hope they will outlive us, Walton must. She must spin multiple plates, each of them rich moments of drama or education, or relationships, because this is the sort of book that demands that level of richness. If one is to pursue immortality, nothing can be left on the table; all the love one has for the world, for art, for pain, for family and friends, for story, it all must go into the cauldron and hope it is enough to summon you to the next world, to life everlasting. This richness is in service to knowing Sylvia, to understanding her wants and needs, knowing her pain and what she has survived to get here. And it works. By the end of the novel, whether it succeeds in the novel or not, you, the reader, know her. You, the reader, know Thalia and its magic, its inhabitants, the new lives of Duke Orsino and Caliban and Viola and Miranda, and yes, our unnamed narrator, who has worked so hard to imprint on you, the reader, the important of it all.

Because if you, the reader, know all this, it means you know Sylvia. And if you know Sylvia, reader, then she can never die. And neither can he. Across metatextual layers, Walton accomplishes what she sets out to do, and in some ways, it may not matter if it truly happens in the story. Sylvia and our narrator, through the act of reading, knowing, and empathy, become real. And thats what matters. That is how they, and any of us, may live forever. Or What You Will may be at times quirky and rambling, but it truly captures the heart of what it means to make art, to tell stories, and why those things are so important. I can honestly say Ive never read another novel like it, and Im very glad, in reading it, to have had the chance to do my small part in contributing to immortality.

Or What You Will is available from Tor Books.

Martin Cahill is a contributor to Tor.com, as well as Book Riot and Strange Horizons. He has fiction forthcoming at Beneath Ceaseless Skies and Fireside Fiction. You can follow his musings on Twitter @McflyCahill90.

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To Create Is To Live Forever: Jo Walton's Or What You Will - tor.com

The Old Guard is now the most popular movie on Netflix, according to the streaming services public ranking system. The Netflix Film is also the services most popular offering, regardless of format.

This new action movie is based on a comic book and stars Charlize Theron as a centuries-old soldier with a superpower that nears immortality. She mentors a young woman who recently developed the superpower, as well. Together, along with a team of similarly gifted people, they attempt to evade capture and keep their powers a secret.

Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado and Desperados are the only other Netflix Films in the ranking this week. The former is a documentary about a famous Puerto Rican astrologer and entertainer, who died in 2019. The latter is a rom-com starring Saturday Night Live-alum Nasim Pedrad.

The soft-core porno 365 Days continues to make it into the list. This Polish movie has now been in the ranking for over a month. Thats a rare feat on the streaming platform.

Go here to see the original:

The 10 Most Popular Movies On Netflix Right Now - HuffPost

There is an old woman who lives near us. She wears a wide-brimmed sun hat with a mesh crown and pushes an aluminum walker ahead of her. We see her on the River Trail, sometimes on very hot days. She says nice things to our dogs. She has one of those voices, reedy and raspy at once, that confounds my understanding, but I somehow know what she is saying. She is cheerful and patient.

I have worked out that she often takes the bus to the grocery store in Levy. It seems that whenever I ride my bicycle in a certain direction at a certain time I will see her, but I only ride my bicycle that way sometimes, so my evidence is anecdotal and non-scientific.

A short digression: A neighbor graciously gave me a bicycle to replace the one that was stolen, so I was able to return the bike I'd borrowed indefinitely from a friend. I'm afraid at first I ungraciously protested that it was too generous a gift, but we have worked it out now. I should have just said "thank you."

Some of you also offered me bicycles. Thank you. My doctor says he thought about calling me to offer one of his. I told him I was full up on bicycles now. He shrugged and said most cyclists had more than one bike, and were eager to enroll new members in the society. I don't know about that, but I do know people can be kind.

(By the way, the lease is up on my car in March.)

Anyway, I see this woman and she makes me smile, in part because I attribute to her certain qualities. People do this, we make up stories to try to force sense into a random-seeming world. So I see her as brave and optimistic, a person who has survived a long life and acquired something like wisdom. I attribute to her qualities I don't know that she possesses, I've imbued her with a fictive personality. I imagine she once had a husband, that her children live far away and don't call as often as they should but she forgives them.

She is a vague source of comfort; I look forward to seeing her. And if a month passes and I don't see her, I will worry until I see her again, or else forget her until some shrapnel detail--a glint of metal in my peripheral gaze--slams into me and I wonder whatever became of the old woman who cooed in her strange but calming language at our dogs?

And I will presume I know what happened to her and will mourn a little, more for myself and the inevitable than for someone I didn't and, given my limitations, maybe couldn't know.

I have never made friends easily, and am OK with that.

I have friends enough, and people I care for, and more people of whom I am fond. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. I imagine I am very good at hiding my disapproval, for I was brought up with manners, in a time when polite hypocrisy was considered preferable to aggressive honesty.

I used to believe I was shy, but some people draw a distinction between shyness and introversion. It's not that dealing with other people causes some kind of psychological pain, it's just that I can spend hours lost in a book or in my own head, noodling with a guitar or playing with software.

Obviously, my introversion has not been debilitating; but I understand how fortunate I have been to find my way through to a place of relative peace and comfort. I don't particularly like crowds, but manage them.

But I cannot be smug about that; we all have seen how quickly norms can collapse. Everything is fragile, every relationship, every institution, even our planet. Every statue will be overturned in time.

You live in a place long enough and everything becomes haunted; the ghosts of the replaced shimmer behind the new silhouettes. There used to be a ballpark where the parking lot stands, there used to be a movie theater somewhere around here, remember the White-Haired Bum and Dirty Walking Man and Big Wheel Jesus rebel-yelling down that Capitol View hill?

Remember the couple that used to walk their dogs down Kavanaugh? Where did they go?

Five months in and what I worry about more than anyhing else is the lonely people, the divorced, the widowed, the never-matched, the ones who live far from where they grew up and the people who reared them. I worry about those who were isolated before this plague settled in, who might even have taken the social distancing mandates as a relief. I worry about those whose strongest relationships are parasocial, who connect through screens with profiles and avatars.

I worry about those who were already living mostly in their own heads. As though we aren't all trapped there, as insulated and isolated as an astronaut in a spacesuit.

All of us perceive the world through filters; it is probably true that no living creature can stand reality undiluted. There is likely no species that doesn't dream, that doesn't in some way delude itself that its existence is not futile or that, in some wordless way, does not have faith in its own immortality.

Our worlds are smaller now; trips have been canceled--they don't want us in Europe or Canada.

The next class I teach will be via Zoom; I have to prop an iPad up next to my laptop to try to keep up with messages from colleagues (I still miss 80 percent of them). Yet things still get done, newspapers still publish, the world grinds on, propelled by forces beyond our ken. One day we might look back on this disruption--this slow-motion car crash--and marvel at how we lived through it, if we live through it.

Or we might find it hard to remember how it was before we became so aware of what lingers in our air; back when people didn't know enough to keep their distance, when strangers might brush against each other thoughtlessly and humanity might pack together to observe civic rituals in stadiums and arenas.

It has been a couple of days since I've seen our lady of the sun hat; I need to see her again. I need her to bless our dogs. I need to know her name.

--v--

Philip Martin is a columnist and critic for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at pmartin@adgnewsroom.com and read his blog at blooddirtandangels.com.

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Our lady of the sunhat - Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Stories from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal that both include the perspectives of Northeast Ohioans might put you in a philosophical mood.

The Post's article looks at the frustration that some adult children feel over the cavalier approach some of their parents take to the coronavirus by "engaging in behavior that fills their middle-aged children with terror, for both their parents' health and their own."

Bill Thomas, a geriatrician and founder of ChangingAging.org, tells the Post, "As we get older, we are more likely to lose the illusion of immortality compared to younger people. Older people are more likely to be living with the awareness that they are in fact mortal and they have a limited amount of time left. Many older people are more conscious of weighing the risk-benefit based on the knowledge that they're not going to be around much longer. So you make some different calculations than younger people."

From the piece:

JoAnn Schaffer, 89, of Shaker Heights, Ohio, dons masks when she goes out and avoids in-person shopping, but she recently had her hairdresser come to her house and hosted a bridge party on her patio much to her 62-year-old daughter's chagrin.

"I have a different perspective," she said. "I'm old, and if I die, I die. If it's going to kill someone, let it happen to the older people. I've lived my life."

Her hairdresser wore a mask, and they opened the windows. As for the bridge players, "we took our masks off. There was a beautiful breeze. These are people I've known for 30 years, and they're clean."

Her daughter, Ann Schaffer Shirreffs of Cleveland, said she knows she can't tell her mother what to do: "At this point, she's almost 90 years old, and if she wants to get together with three other ladies and sit less than six feet from each other and handle the cards, what can I say? There's nothing I can say." Still, she said, "I lose sleep over it."

Thomas tells the paper that younger people shouldn't try to change older parents' activities: "It's a really ageist presumption on the part of these 60-year-old children that they get to tell their parents what to do. They get to do whatever they want. My message to the 60-year-olds is: Get over it. Let them live their life."

Meanwhile, author Bruce Feiler in this Wall Street Journal piece writes about how a string of personal crises a life-threatening illness, a near bankruptcy, the attempted suicide of his father, led him to spend "the past five years crisscrossing the country, collecting the life stories of 225 Americans of all ages and walks of life, from all 50 states, who'd been through similar life disruptions. With a team of 12, I then spent a year coding these interviews for 57 different variables from what emotions people most struggled with, to what advice from friends they found most helpful, to what habits they shed identifying patterns and takeaways that can help all of us survive and thrive in times of change."

One person included in the Journal article is Ann Ramer, a schoolteacher in Cleveland, who spent a decade in hospital wards after two of her children got multiple cancers from a hereditary disorder. She said that she learned to challenge herself, speak up, even lobby before Congress.

"This wasn't the life I expected. Just think, it's raining cancer in my house. But it was the life I got. I'm a different person now, and I'm proud of how I reacted," Ramer tells Feiler.

The piece is adapted from Feiler's new book, "Life Is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age," which will be published by Penguin Press on Tuesday, July 14.

Read the original:

'Let them live their life' - Crain's Cleveland Business

Slept at 8:30 AM, for, I was working on a submission; woke up at 11 AM to the devastating news of Tapan Da having left us for his heavenly abode. Even as I grappled to transcend the stage between sleep and wakefulness, where one is unable to put on purposeful poise, tears streamed relentlessly.

I could not believe my eyes and ears. This could not be real. I had messaged him, right after receiving the news of his hospitalisation, to check on his condition. His amiable reply was typical of the spirited individual that he was. I could not find a single trace of apprehension in his response.

Covid19 has left no human unaffected, across the world. And yet, there he was, responding nonchalantly. Well, he has faced and vanquished all sorts of ailments in his state. Has he not?, I rationalised in my mind and wished him a speedy recovery. His cheery demeanour gave me solace the very next day, when we had a scare closer home in our household.

The topic of Covid19 popped up unexpectedly that day, when my landlady said, We have decided that in the unlikely eventuality of a Covid infection, the patient will quarantine at home and the rest will move to a hotel; we will bear the cost. You need not worry. This was unexpected. Both the generosity of the offer and the mention of the unlikely eventuality of one of us being infected, albeit in future.

I do not say it out of any aggrandized sense of immortality. It is just that the three of us could easily qualify as Americas model household, if you know what I mean! We have gone overboard in terms of adherence to stipulated health guidelines. I, for one, have not stepped out of the house for anything other than a masked dash to the grocery store or an occasional masked walk, since early March. There was a time, when I had to be reminded that lockdown did not mean locking myself into my Harry Potteresque room! The thought, that we could still be susceptible, was completely unexpected.

It did not help when that very night I got a text from her informing me that she had gone into self-quarantine due to sudden fever and would not come out till her fever subsided or she tested negative, whichever happened first. Amidst furious scrubbing of surfaces and isolation of things, it was decided that all of us would get tested to preclude any possibility! The county health department offers free testing; we had to simply book an appointment and show up. It all seemed surreal. Was it really happening to us? I was not scared or worried; merely imagining the various possibilities!

I did not inform my family to prevent unnecessary anguish at their end. Earlier in April, I had jestingly told my dad that either I would be back home, once things were fine, or an urn would find its way. Black humour is not unusual in our family, you see. My dad had laughed it away and then mildly chided me for not realising that, even though Mrityu is inextricably linked to Jeevan, it is deeply hurtful for parents to hear their child say such things! I did not want to burden them with anxiety.

My last interaction with Tapan Da preceded the onset of this personal tumult. I kept checking about him with others too. His response to my enquiry had been calmly reassuring and inspiring. I went for the test, leaving everything to the Divine. Her fever subsided in a day or two. She is fine. We are positive that we will be negative. That is why when I slept in the morning after a tiring, late night of writing, it was with a sense of satisfaction. Waking up to the heart-breaking news of Tapan Das untimely, unfortunate demise was a blow.

I recalled my first meeting with him during an event in September 2018. An unassuming, humble gentleman, he gave no indication of his accomplishments the quintessential grassroots leader, who led from the front. The influence of his leadership extended beyond the organisations he worked for. Being a Hindu woman from a minoritycommunity, persecuted for her faith in her native land, Tapan Das fearless advocacy for equal rights for Hindus, and for the need to declare Bharat as the natural home for all Hindus, was a soothing balm to my own wounds.

How do we pay our tribute to his selfless service? A key expression of our gratitude could be continued cooperation and collaboration for the welfare and growth of our Samaj. I pray to Iswara for his Sadgati. May he continue to bless us from Vaikuntha. Aum Shanti!

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

The rest is here:

The Covid conversation - The Times of India Blog