Thursday, November 19

• Matthew Vaughn's Kick-Ass Gets International Distribution

  When director Matthew Vaughn agreed to direct an adaptation of Mark Millar's Kick-Ass comic book, he decided that he would only do it on his own terms and began looking around for investors to help him finance the $50-million movie. With the funds secured from Hollywood heavyweights, such as Brad Pitt, Vaughn's next challenge was finding a distributor.

  A sneak peek of the movie was shown at this year's Wizard World Chicago comic convention, followed by a plea from Millar to "go on the Internet immediately after this happens and just give your honest opinion." Shortly after, a bidding war for the U.S. distribution rights broke out between three studios, with Lionsgate ultimately capturing the prize.

  Now, Kick-Ass will go international. In a deal struck between Lionsgate International's sales unit, Mandate International, and Focus Features International, Universal Pictures International will distribute Kick-Ass in the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Latin America.

  Kick-Ass stars Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloë Moretz, and Nicolas Cage.

  
  
  Next Showing: Kick-Ass is scheduled to open April 16, 2010

  Posted 11/19/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Matthew Vaughn | Mark Millar | Kick-Ass

Friday, November 6

• Four New Kick-Ass Teaser Posters Debut

  Lionsgate has released four new teaser posters for Kick-Ass, director Matthew Vaughn's dark, teen superhero movie adaptation of the comic book by Mark Millar.

  Each of the four posters spotlights one of the movie's "heroes": Aaron Johnson as Dave "Kick-Ass" Lizewski, Nicolas Cage as Damon "Big Daddy" Macready, Chloe Moretz as Mindy "Hit Girl" Macready, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Chris "Red Mist" D'Amico.

  Also, we should mention that the official Kick-Ass movie site is up and running, though with only limited content for the time being.

  
  
  Next Showing: Kick-Ass opens April 16, 2010

  Posted 11/06/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Aaron Johnson | Nicolas Cage | Chloe Moretz | Matthew Vaughn | Christopher Mintz-Plasse | Kick-Ass

Tuesday, November 3

• Kick-Ass Actors Compare Comic Book Cred

  Actors who sign up for comic book movies often have to do a bit of research to familiarize themselves with the characters and concepts, especially when the movie they're starring in is based on a property that's not as widely known. For at least two actors starring in director Matthew Vaughn's adaptation of the Kick-Ass comic book by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr., research material could be found in their own homes.

  Superbad star Christopher Mintz-Plasse and bit player Clark Duke team up once again in Kick-Ass, and they told MTV that they were both familiar with the comic book before signing on to do the movie. Mintz-Plasse, who played the unforgettable character McLovin in Superbad and dons tights as The Red Mist in Kick-Ass, said:

  I got the script and said, "I've seen this name before," and went through my dad's comics, pulled out the first issue and read it.

  Duke said that not only was he familiar with the Kick-Ass comic book, he was a big fan of the creators of the series before landing the role of Marty in the movie.

  I had the comic first. I've been a big fan of Mark ever since The Authority and followed everything he's done since then. And John Romita, too, obviously — he's drawn every major character in the world over his career. So yeah, I definitely had the comic first."

  Kick-Ass also stars Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, and Chloe Moretz.

  
  
  Next Showing: Kick-Ass opens April 16, 2010

  Posted 11/03/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Matthew Vaughn | Christopher Mintz-Plasse | Clark Duke | Kick-Ass | Superbad

Friday, September 25

• Fan Poll Says Superman Movie Most Desired DC Property

  While the newly formed DC Entertainment may have no current plans for a Superman movie, a recent fan poll conducted by MTV revealed that fans think DC ought to make a Superman movie their top priority by a wide margin. Apparently, fanboys want to wash the bitter taste of the disappointing Superman Returns from their cinematic palette.

  But even if DC could rush another Superman into theaters, where would it start? Warner Bros. President Jeff Robinov would like a "darker" reboot of the franchise, but with the recent court ruling granting the rights for Superman's origins to the families of Superman's creators, the early part of the Man of Steel's life is off limits. However, if DC don't start development on a Superman movie by 2011, the families can sue again for lost revenue.

  DC could always turn to Mark Millar, creator of Wanted and the upcoming Kick-Ass, who more than a year ago pitched an eight-hour trilogy of Superman movies to be released one year apart à la Lord of the Rings.

  There's also an unorthodox script from J.J. Abrams that set half the movie on Krypton where a civil war had broken out, which he might prefer to use pieces of in his sequel to Star Trek.

  Our money's on Kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn who said he would like to reinvent Superman. Considering the legal ramifications involved in rebooting Superman, "reinventing" may bring what the fans are hoping for.

  
  

  Posted 09/25/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Matthew Vaughn | Mark Millar | Superman Returns | Kick-Ass

Thursday, September 17

• Mark Millar Confirms Kick-Ass Sequel

  It's rare for a sequel to be announced before the first movie has even been released, especially an independent superhero flick that only picked up a distributor a month ago.

  But Kick-Ass creator Mark Millar, who also created Wanted and is a prolific comic book writer and creator, has confirmed that a sequel is going to be made, and that the foundation for the sequel's plot was already laid out in the pages of his Kick-Ass comic book.

  There's a basic plot. The series ends on a teaser for the next one, and the movie ends on that teaser, too.

  It didn't cost that much money to make. There will definitely be another one.

  Kick-Ass is directed by Matthew Vaughn and stars Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Chloe Moretz, Yancy Butler, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

  
  
  Next Showing: Kick-Ass debuts April 13, 2010

  Posted 09/17/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Matthew Vaughn | Mark Millar | Kick-Ass

Monday, August 31

• Kick-Ass Director Matthew Vaughn Wants to Direct The Avengers and Superman

  

  Director Matthew Vaughn is a huge comic book fan, as his upcoming Kick-Ass adaptation hopes to prove. However, Vaughn has left more superhero movies than he's made, having abandoned both Thor and X-Men: The Last Stand.

  But that doesn't mean that Vaughn isn't ready for more. Vaughn told MTV about two projects he's hoping to direct:

  I grew up watching superhero films, so I want to make superhero films. I was desperate to do Iron Man about 8 years ago, and everyone was like, "Iron Man, no one will go watch that." Cut to now, and it's a huge hit. [I'd] love to do The Avengers. And Superman ... I think it would be great to reinvent Superman.

  Of course, Jon Favreau directed Iron Man, and he's also been discussed as the potential director for The Avengers. In fact, Favreau feels that The Avengers might keep the Iron Man series from falling into predictability:

  ...The Avengers might be the thing that helps rescue us from the inevitable sequel slump that you get into, because you're throwing everything on its ear. It might be a failed experiment or it might be something wonderful, but it allows you to add complexity in an organic way where you're culminating with something bigger, as opposed to trying to play out and not repeat the same story over and over again.

  Vaughn might have a better chance at the next Superman, though James McTeigue has been strongly rumored to be directing the project.

  
  

  Posted 08/31/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Jon Favreau | Matthew Vaughn | Superman Returns | The Avengers | Iron Man | Thor | Kick-Ass | Superman: The Man of Steel | Iron Man 2 | X-Men: The Last Stand

Sunday, August 23

• The Kick-Ass Movie's Comic Book Violence

  Until recently, it was doubtful if director Matthew Vaughn's latest movie, Kick-Ass, a dark teen "superhero" tale adapted from the comic book by Mark Millar, would get a theatrical release. Before Lionsgate picked up the film, Millar even went so far as to plead with fans at Wizard World Chicago to go home and write about how great they thought Kick-Ass was going to be.

  Millar explained that "the whores in Hollywood" had trouble with the strong language and extreme violence of the film, leaving us to wonder how graphic it could be. Fortunately, actress Yancy Butler (Witchblade), who has a cameo in Kick-Ass, recently described some of the movie's footage at the Dallas Comic-Con.

  Nicolas Cage's daughter (in the film), who wants to be a superhero basically, climbs up this gangster's back ... shoots him from below, and it turns into a comic book, where you see this blood splat like you would, but in pink. And you could see through the hole in his head. It's completely fascinating.

  Kick-Ass stars Aaron Johnson as Dave "Kick-Ass" Lizewski, Nicolas Cage as Damon "Big Daddy" Macready, Chloe Moretz as Mindy "Hit Girl" Macready, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Chris "Red Mist" D'Amico.

  
  
  Next Showing: Kick-Ass is scheduled for release in 2010

  Posted 08/23/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Yancy Butler | Matthew Vaughn | Mark Millar | Kick-Ass

Monday, August 17

• Lionsgate Wins the Kick-Ass Sweepstakes

  With three studios fighting for the the comic book-adaptation movie Kick-Ass, Lionsgate ended up winning the distribution rights, much to writer/director Matthew Vaughn's delight:

  Making and financing Kick-Ass has been an amazing experience, and we've had two important goals from the start: make a singularly entertaining film and find the right studio to release it. With Lionsgate, I know that I've got a supportive and fearless team behind me. It's going to be fun working together to bring the film to audiences and those who are already fans of the comic book.

  Kick-Ass was independently financed before Lionsgate picked up the rights. A release date is still unspecified, though Kick-Ass will open some time in 2010. The movie, should it follow the comic book, will be the violent story of a teenager who decides to become a costumed vigilante and meets a variety of crazed copycats. The bloody nature of the movie didn't frighten Lionsgate, who typically release genre flicks like the Saw movies and the upcoming Gamer. What sold Lionsgate on the picture was the huge response Kick-Ass received at the San Diego Comic-Con, according to Kick-Ass producer Tarquin Pack:

  The massive response we received at Comic-Con has been hugely important in launching the next wave of momentum for the film, and Lionsgate's marketing and distribution talents are a perfect fit for us. Lionsgate is a studio that is not afraid to do things differently, and that is the attitude that has characterized Kick-Ass from the very start.

  The way Pack and Vaughn are talking, it looks like their faithful adaptation won't be compromised on its way to the theaters, which should be good news for fans.

  
  

  Posted 08/17/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Aaron Johnson | Nicolas Cage | Chloe Moretz | Matthew Vaughn | Kick-Ass

Thursday, August 13

• Kick-Ass Draws Interest from 3 Studios

  Kick-Ass, the independently financed comic book adaptation from writer-director Matthew Vaughn, has found success along the Comic-Con circuit. After successful showings of footage in San Diego and recently in Chicago, where Mark Millar, writer of the comic book, asked fans for help in getting the word out on the movie, Kick-Ass is now drawing attention from three different studios.

  Vaughn initially sought funding from studios but went the indie route when the studios questioned the movie's violence. Audiences at the Comic-Cons didn't seem to mind, so now Kick-Ass looks like it will reach its loose release date of "early 2010."

  Kick-Ass follows the adventures of a teenage comic book geek (Aaron Johnson) who decides to become a costumed vigilante. He soon learns he's not alone when he meets a father and daughter team (Nicolas Cage and Chloe Moretz) and partners with another high-school aged hero (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). Kick-Ass is expected to be the start of a trilogy with a sequel already in the works.

  
  

  Posted 08/13/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Matthew Vaughn | Mark Millar | Kick-Ass

Monday, August 10

• Wanted Creator Mark Millar Asks Fans for Help with Kick-Ass and Says "No" to Superman

  Comic book scribe Mark Millar took the stage at Wizard World Chicago to discuss the process of adapting his Kick-Ass comic book into a major motion picture directed by Matthew Vaughn, and ended up pleading with the audience for help.

  According to Millar, securing funding for the film wasn't easy, due to the violent subject matter and course language. Fortunately, Millar's friend, director Matthew Vaughn, believed in the project and decided to champion it.

  (Vaughn's) a good pal of mine, and he loved the book before it came out. He saw the scripts ahead of time because he likes to see what other pals are up to. And, he said, 'I really want to make this movie.' And, what I normally do with like Wanted is that we'll make the comic, and then an agent takes it out to all the whores in Hollywood, and they start bidding, and it's all out of your hands. Hopefully it all works out. Luckily Wanted did. It worked out good. But what happened with this is that it's very difficult material.

  Unfortunately, Millar and Vaughn found that they couldn't retain the integrity of the source material and secure studio funding, so Vaughn took matters into his own hands, raising $50 million in investments so that they could make the movie the way they wanted to make it. Now, Millar is asking fans to help decide whether Kick-Ass receives a theatrical release or goes straight to DVD. After showing footage of Kick-Ass at Wizard World Chicago this weekend, Millar said:

  If you can go on the internet immediately after this happens and just give your honest opinion — I'm pretty sure you'll like it because it's really well made and really well done — but that's the one favor I'd ask everyone. You may think it's shite. I hope you love it because we do.

  Before leaving the stage, Millar was also asked about the rumors that he and Vaughn were conspiring to produce a sequel to Superman Returns. He said:

  There was no interest in me, but they went to Matthew because he's a very well-liked Hollywood director. I love Superman, but Kick-Ass has been such an amazing experience that I realized I'd rather be George Lucas. We just go off and make our own movies and we own them ... that's the model I'd like to follow with future stuff.

  Kick-Ass stars Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage and Chloë Moretz.

  
  

  Posted 08/10/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Aaron Johnson | Nicolas Cage | Chloe Moretz | Matthew Vaughn | Mark Millar | Kick-Ass | Wanted

Saturday, July 25

• SDCC: Expect Kick-Ass in Early 2010

  

  Director Matthew Vaughn updated fans about when his upcoming comic book adaptation Kick-Ass will reach theaters. A violent tale of a high school student who decides to become a costumed vigilante, Kick-Ass has had a vague release date, usually referred to as "opening sometime this year."

  Vaughn told the crowd at the San Diego Comic-Con that the movie will more realistically reach theaters early next year. The holdup seems to be the music. "Everything that we put in it makes it dated right away," Vaughn said.

  Kick-Ass may be delayed, but it already has a sequel in the works, and, possibly, there may be more. "I always had the idea of it being a trilogy," said Mark Millar, the co-creator of the comic book.

  
  

  Posted 07/25/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Matthew Vaughn | Mark Millar | Kick-Ass

Sunday, June 14

• Kick-Ass 2 Already in the Works

  Kick-Ass, the movie based on the popular comic of the same name, won't see theaters until later this year. Even so, a sequel for the Matthew Vaughn-directed production is already on its way.

  Mark Millar, the movie's co-creator, gave some sequel details to SciFiWire.

  Kick-Ass 2 is already being plotted out. We're planning it, because all the actors are quite young and we have to make it relatively quickly. So we'll definitely do that inside the next 18 to 24 months.

  Millar credited the enormous success of Wanted for the Kick-Ass sequel.

  Wanted made $350 million. So that was the thing that opened the doors. I didn't expect that. It made a ton of money, and it was a property nobody had ever heard of. And I think Kick-Ass is going to be even bigger. Everybody who's seen bits of it were rubbing their hands together with excitement because they think they've stumbled onto something very big.

  Kick-Ass is the story of Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), a high school kid who decides to become a costumed hero. Nicolas Cage and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Role Models) co-star as fellow vigilantes. If the movie is anything like the comic, expect bad language and blood-soaked violence.

  
  

  Posted 06/14/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Aaron Johnson | Nicolas Cage | Matthew Vaughn | Christopher Mintz-Plasse | Mark Millar | Kick-Ass | Wanted

Monday, April 27

• Kick-Ass "Hit Girl" Photo

  The 11-year-old super-assassin Mindy, a.k.a "Hit Girl," from Mark Millar's next big comic book movie is showcased in this exclusive pic from Empire Magazine. Played by Chloe Moretz, Mindy's a pre-teen assassin who's been trained by her father, played by Nicolas Cage, since the age of four.

  Kick Ass is about Dave Lizewski, an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who decides to become a superhero -- even though he has no powers, abilities, or training. After getting beat up more often than not, he inspires other vigilantes when his exploits are shown on YouTube. Matthew Vaughn is directing Kick Ass, and we've been assured of an ultra-violent romp not seen in your typical superhero fare.

  
  
  Next Showing: This unique superhero movie hits theaters later this year

  Posted 04/27/2009 by Jim

  Related: Nicolas Cage | Chloe Moretz | Matthew Vaughn | Kick-Ass

Wednesday, January 14

• Three New Kick Ass Images

  Three new pics of Mark Millar's comic book movie Kick Ass have appeared.

  Directed by Matthew Vaughn, Kick Ass is about Dave Lizewski, an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a superhero, even though he has no powers, abilities, training or meaningful reason to do so.

  While confronting local thugs, he manages to get his ass kicked enough times that he develops a bit of fighting skill, and even inspires other vigilantes to the cause when his exploits are shown on YouTube. But the odds change drastically when he incurs the wrath of professional bad-guys.

  Uber-nerd Christopher Mintz-Plasse of Superbad fame plays arch-villain The Red Mist, the son of a mobster who faces off against the would-be superhero. With a little McLovin, odds are this will be a fun movie. Although, if it's anything like the R-rated comic it won't be for kiddies under 17.

  Aaron Johnson plays the lead role along with Nicolas Cage and Chloe Moretz, aka Big Daddy and Hit Girl (in the second picture) -- and friends played by Clark Duke and Evan Peters.

  This will be Millar's second comic novel adapted into a movie. Last year's hit Wanted was the first. Kick-Ass is due out later this year.

  
  

  Posted 01/14/2009 by Jim

  Related: Aaron Johnson | Nicolas Cage | Matthew Vaughn | Christopher Mintz-Plasse | Mark Millar | Kick-Ass | Wanted

Thursday, December 11

• New Photo From Kick-Ass

  AICN visited the set of Matthew Vaughn's Kick-Ass and offered a full report of the big screen adaptation of Mark Millar's popular comic book about a high school geek who decides to don a costume and become a superhero, including a photo of Superbad's Christopher Mintz-Plasse in costume as teenage vigilante The Red Mist. Photos of Kick-Ass himself, played by Aaron Johnson surfaced last month on Newsarama, but, so far, no photos of Nicolas Cage as Big Daddy, one half of the father/daughter vigilante team determined to bring down a drug lord.

  
  
  Next Showing: Kick -Ass will be released sometime in 2009

  Posted 12/11/2008 by reelz

  Related: Matthew Vaughn | Christopher Mintz-Plasse | Kick-Ass

Friday, August 22

• Kick-Ass Cage
  

  Director/Producer Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake) is making a third stab at the comic book movie genre after dropping out of X-Men 3 (he was replaced by auteur Brett Ratner) and a production halt on the upcoming Thor, which Vaughn had been set to direct. Kick-Ass is based on a comic by Mark Miller about a "high school dweeb" named Dave Liezewski who tries to turn his life around by becoming a superhero. Aaron Johnson (Dummy, The Illusionist) is set to play Liezewski.

  Accoring to The Hollywood Reporter, Nicolas Cage has joined the cast as a former cop who has been training his daughter as a "lethal weapon." Cage joins the aforementioned Johnson as well as Lyndsy Fonseca and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

  Kick-Ass production will start in Toronto this Fall.

  Source: The Hollywood Reporter
  
  
  
  

  Posted 08/22/2008 by reelz

  Related: Nicolas Cage | Matthew Vaughn | Kick-Ass

Thursday, May 8

• Matthew Vaughn No Longer Directing Thor Flick

  Seemingly lost amid all of the excitement over Marvel Studios' recent unveiling of its ambitious slate of superhero films was the unsettling news that director Matthew Vaughn (Stardust, Layer Cake) has been dropped from the big screen adapatation of Thor, based on the adventures of the Norse god and Avengers team member who battles villains with the aid of his magic hammer and long flowing blonde locks. Official word from The Hollywood Reporter is that Vaughn's "holding deal" expired (whatever that means), but it's worth it to note that this is the second time the UK-born director has bailed from a Marvel flick. He'd originally been slated to helm X-Men: The Last Stand before being replaced by Rush Hour director and all-around great guy Brett Ratner mere weeks before the start of production.

  Marvel would be wise to hurry up and hire a replacement to helm Thor, since they've already picked a June 4, 2010 release date for the flick. As for Vaughn, methinks he might want to try his luck with DC Comics instead.

  Source: The Hollywood Reporter via JoBlo.com

  
  

  Posted 05/08/2008 by reelz

  Related: Matthew Vaughn | Thor

Friday, August 10

• Vaughn to direct Thor

  Variety reports that Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Stardust) has signed on to direct Thor, the latest Marvel Comics property to make the leap to the big screen. As the Norse god of thunder and lightning, Thor is considered one of the more powerful characters in the Marvel universe, able to best even the mighty Hulk in feats of strength. He's also a member of The Avengers, another Marvel title currently being readied for the big screen.

  Movie fans might remember that Vaughn was the original director attached to X-Men: The Last Stand, but bowed out mere weeks before the start of production amidst rumors of creative differences with producers. Vaughn was subsequently replaced by Rush Hour director Brett Ratner.

  
  

  Posted 08/10/2007 by reelz

  Related: Matthew Vaughn | Thor