Apple TV+ released the first trailer forFountain of Youth, starring John Krasinski and Natalie Portman, and it’s already an improvement on its Netflix counterpart. The upcoming heist adventuremovie directed by Guy Ritchieand written by James Vanderbilt revolves aroundestranged siblings (played by Krasinski and Portman) who team up to search for the elusive, famous Fountain of Youth.The mythical spring, which has been depicted in many films and shows, is said to bestow the gift of youth (as its name suggests) onto anyone who drinks from it, which is why it’s so highly sought after.
Krasinski’s character, Luke, is a treasure hunter who enlists the help of his sister (Portman’s Charlotte, a gallery curator) to locate the Fountain of Youth in theApple TV+ original movie. They travel the world, from England to Egypt, in search of the magical spring. Of course, along the way, Luke and Charlotte struggle to reconnect, which is difficult given their conflicting personalities. They also encounter people who want to stop them from finding the Fountain of Youth. Essentially,Fountain of Youthis a treasure-hunting flick through and through, similar to a previous Netflix film.
John Krasinski & Natalie Portman’s Fountain Of Youth Looks Like Red Notice, But Better
Red Notice Was A Major Disappointment
Despite Red Notice’s star power, production value, and hype, Netflix’s 2021 original film was a disappointment. Thankfully, Apple TV+’s answer to the action comedy,Fountain of Youth, appears to be making up for its major letdown. Even thoughRed Notice is one ofNetflix’s most-watched movies of all time, that doesn’t mean it’s actually any good. Many critics found fault with the cast’s performances, the poorly written script, the easily forgettable (somewhat convoluted) narrative, and more.
Stanley Tucci
The Elder
The good news is that, althoughFountain of Youthseemingly shares some things in common withRed Notice(they both center around treasure hunts, feature an all-star cast, etc.), it looks so much better. Firstly,the brother-sister dynamic is much more interesting and uniquethan the typical partnership-of-convenience trope. As director Guy Ritchie said (perPeople):
“With brothers and sisters, there will always be squabbling. And, as far as I’m concerned, squabbling is the best version of arguing. Brothers and sisters can say things to each other that no one else can. You can warm your hands off that kind of banter.”
John Krasinski and Natalie Portman’s characters' dynamic in theFountain of Youthtraileris more alluring than Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds' characters' relationship inRed Notice. Since the two movies rely on these respective dynamics,Fountain of Youthis a lot more promising. As talented as Ryan Reynolds and Dwayne Johnson are, they both have a very specific style that does tend to make each of their different characters feel similar. Neither Portman nor Krasinski have established any sort of sameness in their acting careers, which should bode well for their characters inFountain of Youth.
Red Notice 2 Has To Break The Rock & Ryan Reynolds' Formulas
Red Notice 2 is likely to happen, however, the sequel needs to avoid repeating Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds' established formulas yet again.
Fountain Of Youth Could Be The Start Of A Major New Adventure Franchise
Apple TV+ Needs More Franchises
While it has famously churned out a number of mega-hit TV series, one thing that Apple TV+ is lacking is major movie franchises. The studio behind the streaming platform has produced a number of well-received and highly-watched movies, including recent successes likeThe Gorge,Fly Me to the Moon, andCoda. However, they haven’t yet locked down a true tent pole feature film franchise, mostly because it hasn’t been a focus.
Fountain of Youthpremieres on Friday, June 05, 2025, on Apple TV+.
Fortunately,Fountain of Youthhas everything that an adventure franchise needs — big stars, great action, and intriguing treasures. Assuming that the movie lives up to itsNational Treasure-esque premise,John Krasinski and Natalie Portman can reprise their roles in sequels featuring their characters looking for more mythical treasures. It’s a concept that can even be picked up with a sequel regardless of how the first movie ends, if it does turn out to be a massive hit.
Fountain Of Youth Shows Us What A Guy Ritchie Indiana Jones Movie Would Be Like
It Feels Like A Chapter In The Beloved Action Adventure Franchise
Guy Ritchie is one of the more reputable action and adventure directors working todaythanks to the unique blend of style and energy he brings to each script. Most of his most well-received projects have been standalone movies, although he dabbled in the franchise world with the popular Robert Downey Jr.-ledSherlock Holmesduology. Guy Ritchie has always felt like a natural choice for another major action-adventure franchise though: theIndiana Jonesseries.
Although it might not feature Indiana Jones himself,Fountain of Youthdefinitely feels like it will satisfy most of the major tropes and adventure notes that theIndiana Jonesfranchise is known for. While action is always front-and-center,Indiana Jonesmovies also delve into history and myth en route to the treasure at the end, which is exactly whatFountain of Youthis setting up.The upcoming movie will operate as a spiritual sequel to theIndiana Jonesserieseven if there are no direct connections, giving audiences a chance to see what a Ritchie-directed Indy movie might look like.
Fountain Of Youth Looks Like The Perfect Movie To Watch Before John Krasinski’s Jack Ryan Return
A Movie Sequel To The Krasinski-Led Show Is On The Way
John Krasinski established himself as an action star in the Amazon Prime Video seriesJack Ryan, based on the Tom Clancy books centered around the eponymous character. The series ran for four seasons and officially ended in 2023, but it’s been announced thatJohn Krasinski will return as Jack Ryanin a new movie that acts as a continuation of that series. While filming began in January 2025, there has been no release date announced for the movie, which will also star Sienna Miller in addition to actors reprising their roles from the series, like Wendell Pierce and Michael Kelly.
Fountain of Youthis the ideal project to enjoy while waiting for the next chapter for Krasinski’s Jack Ryan, asit will be an apt reminder of how good John Krasinski is as an action star. While the new movie looks like it will be more family-friendly than the violent political action thriller Amazon Prime series, it’ll still feature Krasinski in the role of action hero. Based on the sheer status of its actors and director along with what is presumed to be a massive budget,Fountain of Youthmay be the most important project for Apple TV+ in 2025.
