Universal in Talks for 'Kick-Ass 2'

Lionsgate

Kick-Ass 2 is close to being a reality.

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Universal is in talks with Matthew Vaughn to make and distribute Kick-Ass 2, the sequel to the 2010 cult hit movie based on the Mark Millar-John Romita Jr. comic-book miniseries.

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Vaughn directed, produced and self-financed the action movie, which was distributed by Lionsgate and grossed $96 million worldwide on a budget of $30 million. He is only producing the sequel, but has handpicked Jeff Wadlow, who helmed 2008’s Never Back Down, to direct. 

Vaughn wrote the script for the project, which adapts not only Kick-Ass 2, the recent comic miniseries, but also the spinoff Hit-Girl, which is due in stores next month. The Hit-Girl storyline will be the first act of the movie, according to sources.

The actors whose characters survived the bloody ending of the first movie are expected to return, including Aaron Johnson (who played Kick-Ass), Chloe Moretz (Hit-Girl) and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Red Mist).

Dealmaking should begin soon as the film is eying a September start.

This isn’t the first time Universal has come in to make and distribute a sequel of a comic-book movie whose first installment was released by another company. In 2008, the studio released Hellboy II: The Golden Army and after the first movie, Hellboy, came from Revolution and Sony.