Why So Blu?

This April is Going to KICK-ASS!

Can you believe it?  We are now almost 3 months away from one of the biggest movies that will drop this year…KICK-ASS!  Yes, Avatar and Iron Man 2 may have been the talk of the town during Comic-Con 2009, but the real hidden gem that made it’s presence known with ferocity and comedic genius was that of Matthew Vaughn’s KICK-ASS, based on the best-selling comic by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.  Best of all, we were there to partake in the pandemonium when the debut trailer and exclusive footage was shown to a feisty Comic-Con crowd in Hall H.  If you need to revisit that glorious moment in WSB history, please feel free to brush up on Gregg Senko’s post here.  But for now, I just wanted to drop a friendly reminder to mark April 16^th on your calendar.  Mark my words…KICK-ASS will be one of the best times you will have at the theater this year judging by the exclusive footage we witnessed at Comic-Con.  I am that confident.  Please enjoy below the trailer and press release from Lionsgate that was released this past summer. 

SANTA MONICA, CA (August 17, 2009) – LIONSGATE^® (NYSE: LGF), the leading next generation studio, announced today that it has acquired U.S. and Canadian distribution rights to KICK-ASS, the hotly anticipated action-comedy from writer/director Matthew Vaughn (LAYER CAKE, STARDUST).  Based on the groundbreaking, best-selling comic by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr., KICK-ASS stars Nicolas Cage (the upcoming SEASON OF THE WITCH, KNOWING, NATIONAL TREASURE), rising star Aaron Johnson (the upcoming NOWHERE BOY), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (SUPERBAD) and Chloë Moretz ((500) DAYS OF SUMMER).  The screenplay is written by Vaughn and Jane Goldman.  The producers are Matthew Vaughn, Brad Pitt, Tarquin Pack and Kris Thykier; Millar and Romita Jr. are co-producers.  The announcement was made today by Joe Drake, Lionsgate President, Motion Picture Group, and Co-Chief Operating Officer, and Jason Constantine, Lionsgate President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions.

KICK-ASS was the buzz sensation of the July Comic-Con in San Diego, where early footage was shown to wildly appreciative fans.  The film is a privately financed independent production from Vaughn’s Marv Films and Plan B Entertainment, and is currently in post-production.  Lionsgate anticipates a wide release in 2010.

Said Constantine, “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.”

Said Vaughn, “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.”

Said Pack, “The massive response we received at Comic-Con has been hugely important in launching the next wave of momentum for the film, and Lionsgate’s marketing and distribution talents are a perfect fit for us.  Lionsgate is a studio that is not afraid to do things differently, and that is the attitude that has characterized KICK-ASS from the very start.”

The deal was negotiated for Lionsgate by Constantine, Eda Kowan, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions, Wendy Jaffe, Executive Vice President Business & Legal Affairs, Acquisitions and Co-Productions; and by WME and Matthew Johnson of Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca, Fischer, Gilbert-Lurie, Stiffelman, Cook, Johnson, Lande & Wolf LLP, on behalf of the filmmakers.

SYNOPSIS

A twisted, funny, high-octane adventure, director Matthew Vaughn brings KICK-ASS to the big screen.

KICK-ASS tells the story of average teenager Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), a comic-book fanboy who decides to take his obsession as inspiration to become a real-life superhero.  As any good superhero would, he chooses a new name — Kick-Ass — assembles a suit and mask to wear, and gets to work fighting crime.  There’s only one problem standing in his way:  Kick-Ass has absolutely no superpowers.

His life is forever changed as he inspires a subculture of copy cats, is hunted by assorted violent and unpleasant characters, and meets up with a pair of crazed vigilantes, including an 11-year-old sword-wielding dynamo, Hit Girl (Chloë Moretz) and her father, Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage).