"Kingsman: The Secret Service" is the new title of The Secret Service adaptation; sets official release date, posters, and trailer

The upcoming film adaptation of the Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons graphic novel series "The Secret Service" now has a new title and an official release date. Directed by Matthew Vaughn (who also directed "X-Men First Class" and that other Mark Millar story "Kick-Ass"), this adaptation has been retitled: "Kingsman: The Secret Service" and now has an official release date set on October 24, 2014. The Philippine release date has yet to be announced. [hit the jump to continue on to the cast, poster, and trailer]

Kick-Ass 2 to start shooting this year

Kick-Ass Isn't Done Kicking Ass Yet
by Reymundo Salao

The sequel to the 2010 black comedy superhero movie Kick-Ass is now well into production and will start shooting September this year. Aaron Johnson confirmed that he would reprise his titular role in the sequel. Chloë Grace Moretz who plays Hit-Girl and Christopher Charles Mintz-Plasse who plays the Red Mist are expected to reprise their roles as well. On the other hand, director Matthew Vaughn (who still acts as producer for the sequel) will be having his hands full on the sequel to the successful X-Men: First Class but he has chosen Jeff Wadlow, who also co-wrote the script along with Vaughn, to direct Kick-Ass 2. The sequel will maintain that Hard R rating.

Universal now plans a KICK-ASS sequel

While comic creator Mark Millar has been touting the “greenlight” for Kick-Ass 2 for years now, it turns out that production may finally get started this year.  Deadline reports that Universal is in talks to make a sequel to Matthew Vaughn’s excellent 2010 pic Kick-Ass.  Vaughn is currently busy developing a sequel to X-Men: First Class, so Jeff Wadlow will be taking over directing duties this time around.  Wadlow, who wrote and directed 2005’s Cry_Wolf and directed the 2008 fighting-centered Never Back Down, wrote the script for Vaughn who I’m assuming will be producing.

X-MEN FIRST CLASS sequel to give way to The Hunger Games' CATCHING FIRE

Fox and Lion; X-men and Hungry Fighters
by Reymundo Salao

The X-MEN: FIRST CLASS sequel is already a 'Go'. And not only that, it's also going to start shooting early 2013. Although it was initially been reported that shooting should begin late 2012, the sked was moved in order to give way for Jennifer Lawrence's shooting conflicts with The Hunger Games sequel "Catching Fire". X-Men: First Class 2 is expected to reach U.S. theaters by Summer 2014.

Matthew Vaughn returns to direct the X-MEN FIRST CLASS Sequel

Matthew Vaughn is back to direct the X-MEN FIRST CLASS Sequel, with Bryan Singer as Producer. Fox has just closed a deal with Matthew Vaughn to direct the sequel and Bryan Singer back as producer, with Simon Kinberg writing the script. It was inevitable that this sequel would be made, since Fox has had already stated that it envisions X-Men: First Class as the first film of a new trilogy.

One of the best action-sci-fi movies of 2011 was X-MEN FIRST CLASS. It was the movie that really resurrected the X-Men franchise from the ugly damage caused by the lousy "X-Men 3: The Last Stand" and the phenomenally lousier "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" X-MEN FIRST CLASS made the X-Men movies cool again, and made people realize that there are still so many great X-Men stories out there to be recreated on film.

It would be safe to assume that James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender would be returning as Professor Xavier and Erik "Magneto" Lensherr, that goes for the rest of the cast too. I would particularly want to see Rose Byrne again as Moira Mactaggert. But I am so curious if Wolverine's cameo in 'First Class' would bring him into a bigger role for the second movie. I say Not Yet. 'First Class' proved that it could be a success even without Wolverine around (the first three X-Men movies directed by Bryan Singer, seemed to have over-exposed Wolverine's role in the X-Men movies anyway). But if ever he does get to appear on a bigger role, let's just hope it's gonna be more faithful to the comics; brooding, silent, ruthless, almost villainous.