Despite the current pandemic Netflix has managed to continue to release new content. One of the newest original films to be released on the platform is The Old Guard, which features acting from talent like Charlize Theron and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

The story about immortals was originally penned as a comic book and created by comic book veterans Greg Rucka (Batman, Wonder Woman) and Leandro Fernandez (Punisher MAX, Wolverine). To help support the new Netflix release we have set up exclusive interviews with both of them!

First off we’re proud to present our chat with Greg Rucka, the writer and co-creator of The Old Guard comic book. Rucka also stepped up when it comes to the film adaptation as well, as he penned the screenplay. 

Take a look at what Rucka had to say about both the comic and film versions of The Old Guard below and be sure to check out the podcast audio component at the bottom!

Joe: Hey Greg, thanks for speaking with me. I want to start by asking you what The Old Guard is in your words.

Greg Rucka: It’s the story of a group of individuals who are all soldiers of a sort and who are essentially immortal. They don’t know why and they don’t know how, and they do know that they can die but they never know when.

When this story begins the youngest of them is over two hundred years old and the oldest is coming up on seven millennia. And it’s the story of what happens when a new one shows up in the modern world. We call the comic a fairy tale of sorts.

Joe: Nice! Now I spoke to Leandro Fernandez prior to this, and I understand that the two of you worked together prior to The Old Guard. Was he your first choice of artist for The Old Guard?

Greg Rucka: Yep! Absolutely. He and I did comic arc way back in the day when he was starting out and we also did a run on Wolverine as well, so we’ve known each other for some twenty-odd years now. When this idea manifested, he was all for it.

Joe: I know you’re on the writing team for the Netflix film. How does your writing differ for the comics rather than the movie?

Greg Rucka: Well, they’re different animals. When writing for the comic, you’re writing for one medium, and when you’re writing a movie you’re writing for a different medium. So that means storytelling techniques and tricks that you can execute on page aren’t going to work in a movie.

For example, in the comic when Nile and Andy meet they take takes two pages to go from Afghanistan to Paris. It’s a lovely double-page spread and you absolutely cannot do that in the movie. In the movie that takes about seven minutes of screentime.

Those seven minutes are some of my favorite moments of the movie. The two of them on the plane and it’s a fantastic sequence because they acted the hell out of it and it’s fun and it establishes so much so quickly, that’s the primary difference.

There are other examples but that would be the one I go with. You can’t really translate a comic to a movie or else you’ll end up with a bad movie if you do that.

Joe: How did the movie adaptation come about? I understand you wrote the screenplay?

Greg Rucka: It was part of the deal. (Laughs) They said they really like it and want to make a movie and I said that I wanted to do the screenplay and that they could fire me if they didn’t like it. So they said they were willing to give it a try.

Joe: You definitely have to fight for what you love, especially for something like that which is your baby. I’m sure that made a big difference in the final project.

Greg Rucka: Yeah, Joe. It’s interesting because I’ve done many comics that have had adaptations before, and most of the time I don’t get asked to write the adaptation. Stumptown does not need me, though I would be happy to write for them if they wanted me to.

Joe: Is there any interesting trivia you can share with us about The Old Guard as far as the film or the comic book goes?

Greg Rucka: Everything in Gibsonville as well as two separate flashbacks and the tagging scene were all shot at the same location. Walking onto that location and seeing it being an abandoned village in France and a Midieval village, and a hospital ward in the 1920’s in France and an apartment in Paris – that just blew my mind.

And none of it was a sound stage. That was a really cool and interesting thing to see.

What do you think of Ruckas comments? Have you had a chance to check out The Old Guard on Netflix?

Be sure to check out the audio component of Rucka’s interview via the Podcast link below and share your thoughts on the film with us down in the comments section!

Forever is harder than it looks. Led by a warrior named Andy (Charlize Theron), a covert group of tight-knit mercenaries with a mysterious inability to die have fought to protect the mortal world for centuries. But when the team is recruited to take on an emergency mission and their extraordinary abilities are suddenly exposed, it’s up to Andy and Nile (Kiki Layne), the newest soldier to join their ranks, to help the group eliminate the threat of those who seek to replicate and monetize their power by any means necessary.

Based on the acclaimed graphic novel by Greg Rucka and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (LOVE & BASKETBALL, BEYOND THE LIGHTS), THE OLD GUARD is a gritty, grounded, action-packed story that shows living forever is harder than it looks.

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After starring alongside one another in the 2017 sleeper hit The Hitman’s Bodyguard and its upcoming 2021 sequel The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, Academy Award-nominee Samuel L. Jackson (Avengers: Infinity War; Avengers: Endgame) and Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool; Deadpool 2) are all set for round three.

The duo has partnered up for an animated Quibi series titled Futha Mucka, which will likely debut on the mobile streamer sometime next year, if not by 2021 at the very least (providing, of course, that Quibi is still around in the future).

The plot synopsis reads, “Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds love each other. More accurately, Ryan loves Sam. When asked for comment on his feelings for Ryan, Sam said “tell them I couldn’t be reached for comment.” When a minor mishap causes Sam to become Ryan’s primary caregiver, sh*t gets weird. Ryan is delighted to spend all of his time with Sam. Sam couldn’t be reached for comment.“

The series hails from Blockers writers Jim and Brian Kehoe, who will also serve as showrunners and will executive produce the series with both Jackson and Reynolds. 

While the status of Deadpool 3 and/or the Merc with a Mouth’s introduction into the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe remains up in the air, both Reynolds and Jackson can be seen next summer in The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, which was delayed to August 20, 2021 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

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Ahead of their virtual panels at Comic-Con@Home this weekend, 20th Television has officially set a premiere date for the return of their Sunday Animation Domination lineup, and despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it looks like at least one portion of Fox’s fall schedule will be back to normal.

The Simpsons (Season 32), Bless the Harts (Season 2), Bob’s Burgers (Season 11) and Family Guy (Season 19) will all return with their respective season premieres on Sunday, September 27, starting at 8/7c. Fellow animated comedy, Duncanville, is slated to return midseason in 2021.

While a number of the network’s biggest live-action series remain on an indefinite filming hiatus due to COVID-19, the aforementioned animated series were able to remain in production throughout the course of the lockdown and will have all-new, original episodes ready to air through the fall and likely into next year.

As for the rest of their lineup, FOX is betting big on the NFL being able to safely hold a full season to occupy their Sunday afternoons, which seems like a toss-up at this point. 

Weekday lineups will see drastic changes as the network will increasingly rely on a mix of already wrapped scripted and reality series, including Filthy Rich, NeXt, MasterChef Junior and Cosmos. They also recently picked up the Spectrum Originals series L.A.’s Finest starring Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba and wrestling will also be a prominent factor in their fall programming.

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A Ms. Marvel TV series on Disney+ was confirmed last year, but it’s been a while since we’ve heard anything concrete about plans for the show. Initially, it was reported that shooting was scheduled to start next month, but with COVID-19 delaying everything – even Kevin Feige’s plans for the Marvel Cinematic Universe – that’s obviously changed. 

Now, if a new report shared by Murphy’s Multiverse is to be believed (and they are usually a reliable source for information like this), the plan is for Ms. Marvel to begin filming in Atlanta, GA in November.

It will wrap in March 2021, and this three-month delay isn’t that bad. It does, however, mean we’ll likely be waiting that little bit longer to see Kamala Khan in action… in her own show, at least. The site goes on to add that Marvel Studios is looking to finalise casting for Ms. Marvel sooner rather than later, and that actress will appear in another MCU project before starring in her solo adventure. 

What that might be is hard to say, as there are a lot of ways Kamala could be introduced. 

It’s widely believed that the introduction of Ms. Marvel will mean that the MCU is getting a new version of the Inhumans, something that’s absolutely essential after the disastrous ABC TV series spearheaded by former Marvel Television boss Jeph Loeb and Iron Fist showrunner Scott Buck.

Are you guys excited for Ms. Marvel?

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The Marvel Comics version of the Illuminati was introduced by comic book writer Brian Michael Bendis and consisted of heroes like Iron Man, Professor X, Namor the Submariner, Black Bolt, Doctor Strange, and Mister Fantastic. Not only were they responsible for sending The Hulk into outer space (leading to World War Hulk), but they also interfered in a number of big events.

Simply put, they pulled the strings of everyone in the Marvel Universe, and came across in an almost villainous light on occasion. It proved to be a fascinating concept, and a group of bad guys known as the Cabal was later established to counter them (made up of names like Norman Osborn, Doctor Doom, and Loki). 

The usually very reliable folks over at The Illuminerdi are reporting that they’ve seen a cast listing revealing that a project of some sort revolving around the Illuminati is in the very early stages of development.

It’s unclear whether this is a movie or TV show, but it’s hard not to get excited about what it could mean for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and which characters will be assembling to secretly control this shared world. What we do know is that Iron Man won’t be a member after his death in Avengers: Endgame. There is, however, plenty of potential for the other team members. 

It could be a while before we hear anything official, but we’ll be sure to keep you guys updated!

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