TheKingsmanfranchise gets a disappointing new update from 20th Century Studios boss Steve Asbell. The firstKingsmanmovie in 2014 was a hit, with director Matthew Vaughn’s wacky spy universe proving popular with audiences. The 2017 sequel was also a success, butThe King’s Man(2021), a prequel, was a notable box office flop. Since then, Vaughn has expressed interest in concludingEggsy’s (Taron Egerton) story inKingsman 3and making anotherKingsmanprequel, but few concrete updates have emerged about these projects in recent months.
In a recent interview withTHR, Asbell is asked about the status of theKingsmanfranchise and whether more sequels and prequels are on the way. The 20th Century Studios executive keeps his answer short and to the point, saying simply: “There’s no plans on doing them anytime soon.” While that’s not quite a nail in the franchise’s coffin, it certainly isn’t a positive sign for Vaughn’s plans.
What Asbell’s Update Means For The Kingsman Franchise
Vaughn’s Recent Theatrical Failures Explained
The King’s Manreleased as the COVID-19 pandemic was still severely affecting movie theaters in 2021, earning mixed reviews. As seen in the chart below, the film currently sports a 41% critics' score onRotten Tomatoes, a franchise low. Though the audience score of 80% is behind only the first movie’s 84%, this didn’t translate into box office performance. Made on an estimated budget of $100 million,The King’s Mangrossed only about $125.9 million worldwide, meaning it likely lost quite a bit of money.
75%
84%
$414.4 million
50%
64%
$410.9 million
41%
80%
$125.9 million
Despite this, Vaughn has been vocal about makingKingsman 3and making another film that builds on theHitler tease featured at the end ofThe King’s Man. When Vaughn has addressed making another Eggsy adventure, he’s mostly painted the delay as an issue of scheduling, but Asbell’s comment suggests that this may not be the case. Though not aKingsmanmovie or a 20th Century Studios property,it’s likely that the theatrical flop of Vaughn’sArgylle(2024), another espionage action comedy, has also factored into the decision.
In addition toKingsman 3andThe King’s Man 2, Vaughn was once developing a Statesman spinoff TV show, though this project has seemingly been scrapped.
Our Take On Asbell’s Kingsman Franchise Update
Eggsy’s Story Should Be Concluded
Though two high-profile flops isn’t a great look for Vaughn, it would be a shame not to continue theKingsmanfranchise. At the very least, Vaughn should get a chance to conclude Eggsy’s story, as both movies with this character were generally pretty successful. WhileThe King’s Manis actually my favorite of the three films,another prequel at this point seems pretty much dead in the water.
Every Kingsman Movie, Ranked Worst To Best (Including The King’s Man)
So far, there have been three Kingsman movies from director Matthew Vaughn, with more on the way. Here’s the Kingsman films ranked worst to best.
Asbell’s update speaks to just how much plans can change in Hollywood. Though Vaughn may once have had grand plans for theKingsmanfranchise, it now seems as if he’ll be lucky to do one more. It’s possible that things will change in the future, but Egerton and costar Colin Firth are aging, and whateverKingsman 3idea Vaughn has now might not work if the project remains in limbo for another five years. Many questions remain about theKingsmanfranchise, but Asbell’s latest update is certainly a blow.
Source:THR
Kingsman
Kingsmanis a British-American spy action-comedy franchise that began with the 2014 filmKingsman: The Secret Service. The series is known for its stylish action sequences, tongue-in-cheek humor, and blend of espionage tropes with a modern twist. The story revolves around a secret independent intelligence agency known as Kingsman, which recruits promising young people from the working class to serve as elite agents. The franchise has expanded to include sequels, a prequel, comic books, and an upcoming TV series, continuing to explore the world of espionage with a unique and satirical flair.
