As film fans, especially those that enjoy international and indie fare, you begin to root for certain actors and filmmakers to hit it big in Hollywood. In my case, I really enjoy the work of Matthias Schoenaerts and have always hoped that he’d finally find that film that allows him to fully break out in a big way. Now, with the recent casting news with the upcoming film “The Old Guard,” that possibility is starting to look like a sure thing.
READ MORE: Gina Prince-Bythewood Signed On To Direct Comic Book Action Film ‘Old Guard’
THR is reporting that Schoenaerts has joined the cast of the action thriller “The Old Guard,” where he joins actors Charlize Theron, Kiki Layne, Marwan Kenzari, and Luca Marinelli. The film is based on a comic book series about a small group of mercenaries, led by a woman named Andy (Theron). The twist is that this group is filled with mercenaries that are immortal and have been conducting their business through the ages. The group gets thrown for a loop when they discover the existence of a new immortal.
“The Old Guard” is set to be directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, who is best known for her dramas “The Secret Life of Bees” and “Beyond the Lights.” She’s also attached to direct a ‘Spider-Man’ spin-off film for Sony, but that seems to be firmly on the backburner for now. Prince-Bythewood co-wrote the script with one of the comic book’s co-creators Greg Rucka.
READ MORE: Matthias Schoenaerts Is Ready To Work After ‘The Mustang’ [Interview]
Schoenaerts is probably best known for his incredible work over the course of dozens of foreign films, including “Rust and Bone” and “Bullhead.” He has dabbled in English-language films such as “The Danish Girl” and the recent Sundance film “The Mustang.” His most famous English-language role is in last year’s “Red Sparrow,” but obviously, that film didn’t do much for the star power of anyone involved.
There’s no release date for “The Old Guard,” but with the production deep into casting, it would appear that they’re close to beginning filming.