Jrjr17

Director Matthew Vaughn is moving full-steam ahead with a film based on KICK-ASS, the Icon comic by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. That’s despite the fact that the film is so violent that most studios won’t touch it, forcing Vaughn to raise $30 mil to make it himself. Christopher Mintz-Plasse (McLovin from SUPERBAD!) is “in negotiations”, as they say, but 11-year-old Chloe Moretz is firmly on board.

The comic is ultraviolent, with kids taking on adults of all stripes. Moretz’s character, for example, is a ferocious, potty-mouthed 11-year-old who chops down crime thugs with a ninja sword. Mintz-Plasse will play the Red Mist, the angry teen son of a mobster who tries to find uncover Kick-Ass’ identity.

The main character, dweeb Dave Lizewski, has not yet been cast. Vaughn also is talking to several high-profile stars to play parents or mobsters.

Vaughn first brought the project to Sony, which distributed his “Layer Cake,” but the studio balked at the violence, which he refused to tone down. Several other studios expressed interest but demanded that the protagonists’ ages be upped. Vaughn, who most recently co-wrote and directed the international hit “Stardust,” now is going it alone.


Given WANTED’s success, Vaughn probably has a few allies along the way. When Millar was in town a few weeks ago, he was dropping some other names for the cast, but we can’t say anything until it’s in the trades.

1 COMMENT

  1. Umm… why can’t you say anything until it’s in the trades? If Millar was publicly dropping names, can’t you just say something like, “here are the people that Millar was talking about”?

  2. Hey, remember when Millar was saying Eminem was in talks to be in Wanted? Yeah. Didn’t the.. er.. actor threaten to sue because he was lying? I can see why he’s mum on this one.

    Meanwhile, is it just me or did this McLovin news give away something from an issue that’s not out yet?