Lionsgate Nabs Kick-Ass! For a 2010 Wide Release
Lionsgate has grabbed domestic distribution rights to Matthew Vaughn’s action-comedy Kick-Ass! after a 3 studio battle insued after massive buzz was generated from Comic-Con on the project and fan response.
The deal is being described as big with the mini-major studio committing to a wide 2010 release.
The film is based on a ongoing comic by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. about a comic book obsessed teenager who decides to become a real-life superhero despite his lack of any superpowers. The film’s cast includes Nicolas Cage, Aaron Johnson, Chloe Moretz and Superbad’s Christopher Mintz-Plasse.
U.S. distribs got their first peek at a rough cut of “Kick-Ass” on July 28, a few days after the fanboys at Comic-Con saw clips of the film and gave it their blessing. Vaughn’s Marv Films shingle and Brad Pitt’s Plan B produced and privately financed the project.
Lionsgate nabbed distribution rights competing against heavyweights, Universal and Paramount for the film. This is a big nab in my opinion as Universal and Paramount a larger distribution studios with superhero films already on their docket ranging from Hulk/Wanted (Universal) to a distribution contract with Marvel (Paramount). I am glad Lionsgate got the nab as they seem like the perfect studio to back a grittier more adult comic adaptation than Universal or Paramount. After all they are the studio that pumps Saw films out every Halloween and Crank movies too Kick-Ass! seems to be a perfect addition to the Lionsgate family.
