As you may recall, last week we reported several studios were vying for the rights to distribute Matthew Vaughn's adaption of Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.'s "Kick-Ass" after a positive screening at last month's San Diego Comic Con. Well it seems that the deal has been struck with Lionsgate committing to a wide 2010 release date for the privately produced and financed action-comedy flick. Pull on your tights, hop in the Mist Mobile and read more after the jump.
An official press release from Lionsgate states that they indeed have snatched up the domestic distribution rights to the film, based closely on the comic centering on a high school student who decides to make himself a costume and fight crime, ending up in alternately hilarious and painful situations. Vaughn, the director of bad ass Brit drug romp, "Layer Cake" and Neil Gaiman adaption "Stardust", financed the film without major studio support after refusing to make major changes to the story had this to say:
"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."
Lionsgate seems excited too, with Co- Chief Operating Officer, Jason Constantine saying,
"Matthew Vaughn is an amazing talent and a true original, and he has brought a whole new mindset to the action genre with KICK-ASS. KICK-ASS redefines the boundaries in terms of humor, action, story, character and tone -- it's the kind of movie that reminds us of why we go to the movies in the first place. Lionsgate is thrilled to bring KICK-ASS home to give it the next-generation launching pad it deserves."
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I've been rooting for this film for a long time now, as I'm a big fan of Vaughn (still wishing he'd gotten to do "X-Men 3") and the idea of McLovin fighting crime tickles me in just the right way. Adaptions of Millar's work in the past haven't necessarily been great, with Timur Bekmambetov's "Wanted" baring little to no resemblance to the original story about a world ruled by victorious comic book super villains, but the near independent status of this flick gives me hope. It's good to hear that Lionsgate has already agreed to a wide theatrical release and seems genuinely excited about the flick, we won't be getting any "Midnight Meat Train" style dicking around. From the clips seen at this past Comic Con, the film looks to be a great blend of violence and absurdist humor, which is dead-on perfect. Hoping for a damn good time here.