Universal Pictures is in talks to make Kick-Ass 2, with Jeff Wadlow directing his script. I’m told the intention is to get the film in production by August. Discussions are just getting underway with such original castmembers as Aaron Johnson, Chloe Moretz and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and they will have to be signed to new deals to reprise their roles. The raucous 2010 film was directed by Matthew Vaughn; it was made for $28 million and grossed $48.1 million domestic and $103 million worldwide. The original was released by Lionsgate but became a free ball controlled by Vaughn. He can’t direct the sequel because of his commitments to his X-Men: First Class follow-up, but he is backing it and is fully supportive of handing over the reins. Wadlow, who wrote and directed 2005′s Cry Wolf, wrote the Kick-Ass 2 script for Vaughn, and it has already come before Universal’s green-light committee.
Kick-Ass 2 will enter production this year for a May 2013 release, according to series artist John Romita Jr.
Speaking during a world record signing and sketching attempt over the weekend, the illustrator revealed that deals are in place for the follow-up and shooting is imminent.
Romita Jr, who worked on the Kick-Ass comic books with writer Mark Millar, did not divulge any details about the movie’s cast and crew, but did confirm that it could feature an animated sequence that he is hoping to develop.
Kick-Ass stars Aaron Johnson and Christopher Mintz-Plasse are expected to reprise their roles from the original, though reports suggest that Chloë Moretz, who portrayed Hit-Girl, could be caught up in a scheduling conflict.
Comic Book Movie understands that Moretz will be filming Carrie around that time frame, and has The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea lined up as her next venture.
Kick-Ass 2‘s cast and director is expected to be announced in the near future.
Aaron Johnson, 21, is engaged to and has two children with Taylor-Wood, 45, and says they come before his acting career.
Speaking from the set of his latest film Albert Nobbs he says: “I can’t wait to get back to my family. Sam was over visiting and just went back yesterday. It’s nice just to be together.”
Johnson, who met Taylor-Wood at the age of 19 when she cast him in her big-screen directorial debut Nowhere Boy – in which he played John Lennon – says he realises he is old for his years.
The first trailer for Savages has finally debuted via MTV and it does not disappoint. Check it out!
Deadline are reporting that Aaron, along with Garrett Hedlund, is one of the frontrunners for the role of the thief in Warner Bros’ upcoming adaption of the 1983 Mark Helprin novel. Jessica Brown Findlay has already been cast as the lead in the film.
Akiva Goldsman has found his leading lady for Winter’s Tale, the Warner Bros adaptation of the 1983 Mark Helprin novel that the Oscar-winning scribe will make his feature directorial debut. I’m told that Jessica Brown Findlay beat out a slew of young actresses for the female lead. Findlay plays Lady Sybill Crawley in Downton Abbey.
In Winter’s Tale, she will play a dying woman who falls in love with a thief who breaks into her home, a palatial West Side mansion, in a drama that takes place in 19th century and contemporary Manhattan. Right now, Warner Bros is close to setting the thief, with Aaron Johnson and Garrett Hedlund the frontrunners.
A proper hires version of the Anna Karenina still that was featured in a recent issue of People has been added to the gallery.
GALLERY LINK:
- Anna Karenina (2012) > Production Stills
Photos of Aaron at Jamie Oliver’s screening of ‘Wild Bill’ have been added to the gallery. Enjoy!
GALLERY LINK:
- Appearances > 2012 > Jamie Oliver Hosts Private Screening of Dexter Fletcher’s Directorial Debut ‘Wild Bill’
Via FocusFilms, we finally have our first still (that isn’t a magazine scan) of Aaron in Anna Karenina!
GALLERY LINK:
- Anna Karenina (2012) > Production Stills
Courtesy of balifilm, three new photos of Aaron from the Savages set in Indonesia have been added to the gallery. Love the one with him and the kids, adorable!
GALLERY LINK:
- Savages (2012) > Behind the Scenes – In Indonesia
I hope Mark stays true to his word!
Although we haven’t heard anything official regarding the Kick-Ass sequel Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall in quite some time, comic book creator Mark Millar has revealed that the sequel will go into production this summer, along with American Jesus.
“We shoot Kick-Ass 2 and American Jesus this summer. Then Matthew (Vaughn) and I have Secret Service, which is a neddy James Bond.”
It doesn’t seem that Matthew Vaughn will return to direct Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall, although it is believed he will remain on board as a producer. We reported last month that Matthew Vaughn will direct the X-Men: First Class Sequel, although no production start date was released. We also have no official word regarding actors such as Aaron Johnson, Chloe Moretz, or Christopher Mintz-Plasse returning for Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall.



Anna Karenina (2012)
Savages (2012)
Albert Nobbs (2011)













