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Guy Ritchie’s latest action-adventure, Fountain of Youth, set to premiere May 23 on Apple TV+, is packed with everything you’d expect: globe-trotting heists, high-stakes missions, and a pulse-pounding race toward immortality. But while the story centers on a mythical spring, the film’s real depth comes from its ensemble—particularly the grounded, poignant performances of Carmen Ejogo and Laz Alonso.

Sheen Magazine caught up with both stars to discuss their experience on Ritchie’s wild ride of a set, and what Fountain of Youth meant to them—not just as actors, but as people reflecting on time, legacy, and life.

Laz Alonso: “I’ll be the grownup in the room.”

When asked what made him say “yes” to Fountain of Youth, Laz Alonso didn’t hesitate: “Guy Ritchie,” he said with a smile. “I had the opportunity to work with Guy a few years ago on a movie called Wrath of Man. And I had such an amazing experience—his crew is like a family. Some get along, some don’t get along, but they still get on each other’s nerves and it’s hilarious. But they’re all really, really good at what they do. And they treat you like family.”

Alonso, who plays Murphy, a steady and seasoned operative in the film’s heist crew, found himself drawn to the role’s unspoken emotional weight.

“My character Murphy used to be part of John Krasinski’s father’s team,” he explained. “Now John is doing what his dad used to do and he brought me on board. That told me I have to, in many ways— even though it’s not in the script—provide fatherly energy. Be strong, be stern, be a rock when things might be falling apart.”

With Krasinski and Natalie Portman playing siblings constantly at odds, Alonso found his own character caught in the crossfire. “I volunteered. I’ll be the grownup in the room,” he laughed. “Can we get back to the mission? We have to accomplish this.”

When asked if he’d sip from the mythical Fountain of Youth, Alonso was quick to answer: “Yeah, no. I don’t want it. I don’t want a sip. I don’t want a drip. I don’t even want to give you the eye drops. I’m good.”

He continued with a quiet earnestness: “The idea of being immortal in this world is just… it’s scarier than anything. I believe that wherever we go next is better than here. I hope I’m right. I think eventually, you wear out your welcome. And I would not want to be here forever.”

On the topic of revisiting his own youth, Alonso paused deeply. “That is probably one of the most profound questions I’ve gotten in recent memory,” he said. “I knew I wanted to do this business. I didn’t know how. I can’t imagine being tremendously successful in my twenties. I don’t think I had the emotional maturity. I’m a slow burner… and I’m kind of happy that it happened this way.”

What would he say to his younger self? “Go on, young man. Don’t let nobody stop you. Do what you gotta do. And when you have those doubts—just pray. You’ll be fine.”

Carmen Ejogo: “Big eyes, wide open energy.”

For Carmen Ejogo, Fountain of Youth was a cinematic full-circle moment. The actress, who plays Deb McCall, a character with her own mysterious ties to the larger mission, described her first Guy Ritchie film as “a bit of a baptism by fire.”

“You often will show up to set and everything has changed,” she said with a laugh. “The scene’s changed, the dialogue’s changed, the storyline’s changed. So you’ve got to be on your toes. Everyone—from John Krasinski to Natalie Portman to Laz—we were all sort of figuring it out, how Guy does what he does.”

Eventually, she said, a rhythm emerges. “You realize there’s a little bit of method to the madness. And that’s what makes a Guy Ritchie film in the end, very often, a really great film to watch.”

The film’s massive scale—shot in locations like Vienna, Cairo, and Bangkok—wasn’t lost on her. “When you literally hire the entire pyramid as a location,” she laughed, “and you’re blowing up cars in front of it, that’s when you start realizing the scale of this film is really epic.”

She also highlighted a quieter moment of awe: “At the Austrian National Library… just one of the most exquisite, massive, beautiful library spaces I’ve ever seen. There were hidden doors! That’s the kind of stuff we got to discover on set.”

And if she found the actual Fountain of Youth? “Well,” she smiled, “I actually think there is a Fountain of Youth out there somewhere. I’ve grown up with the kind of imagination that thinks that could be out there. Maybe that’s why I was interested in making the film.”

Still, Ejogo balances her curiosity with grounded wisdom. “Wisdom is what you have to hold on to with time. The idea of avoiding aging and avoiding growth… maybe that’s not actually the most amazing thing to aim for.”

Asked what part of her own youth she’d revisit, she recalled her very first film role at age 11. “That would be a fun one to go back to. I had such big, wide open eyes as to what was possible. This film actually did that for me again—it brought that energy to my present.”

A Heist, A Heart, A Legacy

While Fountain of Youth boasts an exciting plot and an impressive international cast, what elevates it is the emotional dimension brought by actors like Ejogo and Alonso. They embody more than just characters; they carry wisdom, curiosity, and heart into every scene.

It’s a reminder that the true pursuit isn’t eternal youth—it’s understanding who we are along the way.