I’ll be the first to admit that superhero flicks are not really my thing. In fact, I have never actual seen a Marvel movie in my entire life. But whilst flights are grounded, holidays are off, and money is scarce, a movie that takes us on a trip down the streets of Marrakech, across the deserts of Somalia and through the fields of England, is a trip I want to go on. And all you need is a Netflix login. 

The Old Guard, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, follows Andy (played by Charlize Theron), a centuries-old warrior, and her soldiers, who have a secret: they are immortal. But their power is exposed, and it’s up to Andy and Nile (Kiki Layne), the newest mercenary to join their ranks, to help the group eliminate the threat of those who seek to replicate and monetise their superpower.

The Netflix original, which available to stream now, entered the industry on a very particular cusp: a time when women can call (at least some of) the shots. It is helmed by three women – Charlize, Gina and Kike, who steer the plot, story and characters with take-charge authority. So could this mean, then, that male-dominated superhero worlds are over and girl power, literally, is here to stay?

“What I love so much about this film is that it is a story about a group of warriors from different cultures and genders who have come together to protect humanity,” Gina Prince-Bythewood tells Cosmo ME. “It reflects how the world should be. Andy and Nile are two dope chicks who prove courage has no gender, badass has no gender. Its empowering to see ourselves as heroes.”

Gina Prince-Bythewood

“Nile is a fighter,” adds Kiki Layne. “She’s a fighter who is struggling with the depth of the warrior within her. People are quick to judge to her, but she’s bright, she asks questions, and she’s a young woman who stands up for herself.”

With three well-received action movies under belt, including Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde, and Æon Flux, Charlize Theron is no stranger to a high-octane fight scene. And the actress brought that depth of field to her latest character, which left a lasting impact on the other women on set.

“It was insane when I found out I got the role and I would be working with her [Charlize],” Kiki tells me. “Being on set with her was amazing because I got to see someone who just knows film so well. Like, shots, angles, camera placement, lens – all that type of stuff. I just loved working with her because of how she carries herself, as a woman, you know, as confident as she is. She has a very powerful presence. I think that a woman carrying that type of presence on such a huge set, like, an action film set, was something I really took away from working with her. No matter how big the part, I don’t have to be afraid to really be present.”

“If Charlize taught me anything on set, it’s the amount of work an actor has to put in to be great at action,” Gina adds.

Much of the movie was shot in the Middle East and Africa. And, not to mention, Tunisian actor Marwan Kenzari of Aladdin fame, also stars in the movie, so The Old Guard had a special place in the heart of Netflix MENA streamers.

“I love that we have a character from the Middle East who is a hero,” says Gina. “Joe (played by Marwan Kenzari) is a warrior, a moor, who fought in the crusades, before becoming immortal. I am so excited about his character. This was my first time in Morocco and I cannot wait to go back. I loved the people, I loved the energy, and I loved the food. Our Moroccan crew was great. So talented and giving. I love the heat, but shooting in 105 degree weather was a little tough.”

“Shooting in that heat was…well, it was a different experience,” Kiki laughs. “I was like ‘well the sun is shining differently!’ I mean, it was like July August, girl!”

Welcome to our world, ladies!

“But they took good care of us. I was like ‘stay hydrated you know, stay hydrated’. But it was also like really cool, like, it was our first time in Africa! We went to Morocco and the culture is so differen. It was really, really cool.”

We know Netflix, with its endless pages of movies, documentaries, original series and reality TV shows, can be a notorious source of option paralysis, but The Old Guard presents a promising vision of two heroines ready to save the world, and could open the doors for many more incredible women to make their way onto the big screen.

The Old Guard will be available to stream from July 10 on Netflix