‘Kick-Ass’ sequel to go forward with new director | Film News

A sequel to 2010′s unexpected box office hit Kick-Ass is in the works despite the original’s director being unavailable, Deadline reports.

Universal Pictures is said to be in talks with screenwriter Jeff Wadlow about directing his script for Kick-Ass 2. Talks with principal members of the cast — including Aaron Johnson (“Kick-Ass”), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (“Red Mist”), and Chloe Moretz (“Hit-Girl”) — have reportedly just gotten underway, as new deals would need to be reached in order to bring them all back to reprise their roles. Wadlow’s script has already been brought before Universal’s greenlight committee; Deadline expects a deal to be reached soon and for the film to be in production by August.

Matthew Vaughn, who directed the original film, is unavailable for a potential Kick-Ass 2 due to obligations to direct the sequel to last summer’s X-Men: First Class but is reportedly fully supportive of plans to bring Wadlow in as his replacement.

Wadlow, who happens to be the nephew of American TV personality Katie Couric, wrote and directed 2005′s Cry_Wolf and directed 2008′s Never Back Down starring Djimon Hounsou.

A surprising success, Kick-Ass was produced for $28 million but raked in $103 million worldwide. The film was based on the comic book of the same name written by Mark Millar.