There is no official confirmation of whether or not there will be a Kick-Ass 3. However, there have been hints and rumors about the possibility of a third installment in the franchise. Filmmaker Matthew Vaughn, who directed and produced the first Kick-Ass film and also oversaw the production of the second film in the series, announced his intentions to reboot the film series, but no concrete development in the project has been reported.
Kick-Ass is a story that follows the self-made teenage superhero Dave Lizewski who joins forces with a father-daughter vigilante duo (Hit-Girl and Big Daddy) to take on a powerful crime boss and his son. The first film was released in 2010, while the sequel, Kick-Ass 2, came out in 2013 despite facing backlash for explicit content from the first project. The films drew inspiration from Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.’s graphic novel collection of the same name.
Is There Going to Be a Kick-Ass 3?
There may be a Kick-Ass 3 in the future, but the film will not be a continuation of the first two Kick-Ass films. It would instead be a reboot that will feature new storylines and possibly new characters that would modernize the series and allow it to resonate with modern audiences.
English filmmaker Matthew Vaughn has publicly expressed his desire to reboot the film series. He said he’s developing “a prequel of how Hit-Girl and Big Daddy become Hit-Girl and Big Daddy.” He would then follow that up with Kick-Ass 3. However, an official confirmation has yet to be put out on when exactly fans should expect to see the project.
In late 2021, Vaughn was reported to have said that the Kick-Ass reboot would be in the works within two years, and expectations were high. However, it has since been clarified that fans and the media misinterpreted this quote to mean that the project will be released in 2023. What Vaughn actually said and meant was that the film rights to the Kick-Ass character would “revert back in two years.” This means that Kick-Ass creator Mark Millar will be able to do whatever he wants with the character’s on-screen adventures, so he and Vaughn can be able to develop a better and more exciting storyline.
Mark Millar has noted that he had a script for a third film but that it would be different from the first two films. He said that the third film would be more of a drama than an action comedy.
Vaughn and Millar are not the only ones associated with the previous Kick-Ass film to have indicated interest in making a third project. Kick-Ass 2 director Jeff Wadlow said he would be interested in making a third film if the sequel he was working on at the time proved to be a success. Actress Chloë Grace Moretz, who played Kick-Ass’s sidekick Hit-Girl in the first two films, also said she would be interested in returning for a third film, stating, “I hope, I wish. That’d be fun. That’d be great. I doubt it, but I would love it”.
Kick-Ass 3 Release Date Rumors
While many believe that Kick-Ass 3 will be released in 2023, there is no confirmed release date for the project. However, there are some clues that can help us speculate on when it might hit the screens. Matthew Vaughn, who helmed the previous Kick-Ass films, was busy with films from the X-Men and Kingsman franchise in the 2010s. Currently, he is occupied with a spy thriller titled Argylle in which he serves as a director and producer. The project is slated to be released in 2024.
Once he wraps up Argylle, his schedule might free up for another project that may be the Kick Ass reboot. Historically, Vaughn has shown a penchant for releasing projects within three years of a previous work. Following this pattern, it’s conceivable that whatever he chooses to work on after Argylle could be aiming for a 2026 release date.
However, the release date for Kick-Ass 3 may be pushed even further away if he decides to take on other projects like the Hit-Girl prequel. This means that Kick-Ass 3 would not come until 2029. Argylle is also envisioned as the inaugural chapter of a trilogy, and so is likely to keep Vaughn engaged for several years if he proceeds to create Argylle 2 and Argylle 3 consecutively or return to the X-Men or Kingsman franchises. This means that it could be another decade before Kick-Ass 3 is a reality.
Nonetheless, this timeline could vary if Vaughn decides to take on a different role for Kick-Ass 3, such as that of a producer, while another director and writer leads the project. In such a scenario, the release of Kick-Ass 3 could potentially arrive much sooner, depending on the production team’s decisions and the overall direction of the film.
Where to Watch Kick-Ass 2
Kick-Ass 2 is available for streaming on various platforms, including Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. It was available for a four-month period on Netflix USA in 2023 before it was removed. It is not clear if it would return to the platform again. Other platforms where you can stream Kick-Ass 2 include Redbox, Microsoft Movies & TV, and Vudu.
You can also purchase a digital copy or rent/purchase a physical copy of the film on DVD or Blu-ray from a variety of retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, and Target.
Kick-Ass 3 Cast
It is not clear if there would be a total overhaul of the previous main cast of Kick-Ass for Kick-Ass 3. However, the titular character by all indications, looks like it will be played by a different person.
When Matthew Vaughn unveiled his plans for the Kick-Ass reboot, he made it clear that he would be casting a new “brave actor or actress” for the role. This declaration strongly implies that English actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson is unlikely to reprise his role as Dave Lizewski in Kick-Ass 3. It is probable that Vaughn and the casting team for Kick-Ass 3 will opt for an unknown talent whose qualities align perfectly with the character rather than opting for a well-established star.
Chloë Grace Moretz from the previous Kick-Ass film has expressed her eagerness to reprise her iconic role as Hit-Girl. Other actors that may also possibly return include Nicolas Cage, who played Damon Macready / Big Daddy, an ex-cop turned vigilante seeking payback against Frank D’Amico for destroying his family.
