Though hopes for Kick-Ass 3 have been high for over a decade, the anti-superhero franchise is currently returning in a Kick-Ass reboot. The Kick-Ass movies star Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Dave Lizewski, a timid high schooler who decides to put his comic book obsession to good use by becoming a real-life superhero. Chloë Grace Moretz co-stars as Mindy Macready, better known as Hit-Girl, a much more effective real-life superhero whose combat skills put Kick-Ass to shame. With its clever dissection of superhero tropes, the Kick-Ass series was ahead of its time.
Long before Deadpool and Logan came along, the graphic violence and crude language of the Kick-Ass films proved that R-rated superhero movies could be successful. Kick-Ass 2 wasn’t as big of a critical or commercial hit as the first movie, but it did well enough to spark discussions about a potential Kick-Ass 3. Since director Matthew Vaughn has been preoccupied with the Kingsman franchise, the Kick-Ass franchise has been on the back burner. However, that has all begun to change as Vaughn has once again set his sights on Kick-Ass.
The Kick-Ass Reboot Latest News
Matthew Vaughn Reveals His Trilogy Plan
While a new Kick-Ass project has been known since the middle of 2023, the latest news came in January 2024 revealing Matthew Vaughn’s plans for a Kick-Ass reboot trilogy. The visionary director behind the original film is returning to the franchise and has a plan for not one, but three new Kick-Ass movies that will serve as a hard reboot for the classic comic series. Along with that news, Vaughn also revealed that the first film, School Fight has already been shot.
At this juncture, the sequel is tentatively titled The Stuntman, while the third installment will simply be called Kick-Ass. Vaughn mentioned that writing is still underway on Kick-Ass, but he made no mention of a cast, story, or even a production timeline for the first film’s release. Throughout 2024, no further updates have surfaced regarding the new planned trilogy, and it’s unclear where any of the films currently stand.
Matthew Vaughn has also announced sequels to the
Kingsman
and
Argylle
franchises, which have yet to come to fruition.
The Kick-Ass Reboot Is Confirmed
Three More Kick-Ass Movies
Matthew Vaughn confirmed the existence of another Kick-Ass project in 2023, but little actual details were attached to the announcement. However, in early 2024, Vaughn clarified his previous reveal and laid out his extensive plan for a Kick-Ass reboot trilogy, starting with the first film, School Fight. At this juncture, all three reboot films are confirmed, though no timeline has been provided for School Fight‘s release.
The Kick-Ass Reboot Cast
No Original Stars Are Expected
In the wake of Matthew Vaughn’s announcement of a new Kick-Ass reboot trilogy, no word has come regarding the cast. While no new names have been added to the ensemble, it can be assumed, based on its status as a reboot, that none of the actors from the first two Kick-Ass movies will be reprising their roles. The main character, Dave Lizewski, is supposed to be a teenager in Kick-Ass, and original actor Aaron Johnson has since aged out of the role.
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Kick-Ass Reboot Trilogy Plans
An Ambitious New Take On Kick-Ass
|
Kick-Ass Movie |
Release Year |
Note |
|---|---|---|
|
Kick-Ass |
2010 |
Grossed $96 million worldwide |
|
Kick-Ass 2 |
2013 |
Grossed $60 million worldwide |
|
School Fight |
N/A |
Completed in 2021 |
|
The Stuntman |
N/A |
A planned sequel to School Fight |
|
Kick-Ass |
N/A |
A reboot to cap the trilogy |
Instead of a much-anticipated Kick-Ass 3, Matthew Vaughn has now revealed that the franchise isn’t getting a sequel, but a full-on reboot. On top of that, the reboot won’t simply be a standalone film but an entire trilogy that will expand and explore the lore of the Kick-Ass universe. According to Vaughn, the first film, School Fight, has already been shot, though no release date has been revealed yet.
The sequel is tentatively titled The Stuntman, but that will likely change as the series begins to progress. Finally, Vaughn announced that the third film will simply be titled Kick-Ass and that it is currently being written. It is unclear how the trilogy format will affect the story, or if the trilogy will be an extended origin story that culminates in the third film. It is also important to note that, since the first film hasn’t even been released yet, all future plans are subject to change.
The Kick-Ass Reboot Story
Where Will The New Trilogy Go?
Since Vaughn plans a trilogy of films, the series could chronicle both Lizewski and Lee’s time as the titular hero, or create an all-new narrative that blends the two in some way.
Despite laying out his franchise plans for the Kick-Ass reboot, Matthew Vaughn hasn’t spoken much about the story, so it is unclear what aspects of the comics will be used, if any. As a reboot, it would make sense to go back to the beginning and re-tell the origin story of Dave Lizewski as he grows from a disgruntled teen into a bona fide superhero, but that isn’t the only option.
Though the first two films focused exclusively on Lizewski’s time as the green and yellow vigilante, the comics continued the story after Lizewski stepped down and was replaced by Patience Lee who assumed the moniker of Kick-Ass. Since Vaughn plans a trilogy of films, the series could chronicle both Lizewski and Lee’s time as the titular hero, or create an all-new narrative that blends the two in some way. Regardless, the Kick-Ass reboot is already promising to give a jolt to the tired superhero genre just like it did back in 2010.
Kick-Ass
Initially beginning as a comic series by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr., Kick-Ass is a multimedia franchise that follows a teenager named Dave Lizewski who decides to become a self-appointed superhero by donning a costume and throwing himself into various criminal incidents to mixed results early on. He is typically joined by Hit-Girl, a young girl trained by her father to become a violent crime fighter with incredible combat skills.
- Created by
- Mark Millar , Jane Goldman , John Romita Jr. , Matthew Vaughn
- First Film
- Kick-Ass
- Cast
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson , Chloe Grace Moretz , Christopher Mintz-Plasse , Nicolas Cage , Clark Duke , Yancy Butler , Omari Hardwick , Morris Chestnut , Evan Peters , Mark Strong , Jim Carrey
- Character(s)
- Kick-Ass , Hit-Girl , Red Mist , Battle Guy , Angie D’Amico , Marcus Williams , Big Daddy , Frank D’Amico
- Video Game(s)
- Kick-Ass: The Game , Kick-Ass 2: The Game