We’re only a few days away from the U.S. opening of “Kick-Ass,” and reviews for Matthew Vaughn’s superhero comedy range from the ecstatic to the pleasantly surprised (us). Speculation is already mounting on the director’s next choice of project, and it seems likely that the helmer, who was attached to both “X-Men: The Last Stand” and “Thor” at various points, will be staying within the comic book world for this next film. Among the projects being kicked around is a “Kick-Ass” sequel; a new project with Mark Millar and a rumored adaptation of the semi-obscure character “Bloodshot.” But we’ve stumbled across evidence that there may also be something else, after The Guardian carried an interview with Jonathan Ross over the weekend.
Ross is virtually unknown in the States, but he’s a huge figure in the UK, host of the biggest chat show in the country, the BBC’s film critic, and, for the last few years, host of the BAFTAs. He’s about to leave the BBC, his home for nearly ten years, partly due to an absurd, overblown controversy after Ross and Russell Brand left a series of “obscene” messages on the answering machine of an elderly actor, and is moving onto new pastures. He’s notably a famous comics obsessive, and has now taken to writing for the form, with the first issue of his series “Turf” being published by Image last week.
The interview discusses the early success of the first issue, and states that “there will be five further issues, a hardback collection and — if all goes to plan — a “Turf” movie made by Matthew Vaughn.” This makes particular sense because Ross’s wife, Jane Goldman (pictured right with Ross) is Vaughn’s writing partner, collaborating with him on the scripts for “Stardust,” “The Debt” and “Kick-Ass,” so it seems natural that, were a film to be made of the series, that it would find a home with Vaughn.
The series, which is set in Prohibition-era New York, and follows a turf war between gangsters, corrupt cops, vampires and an alien race, has picked up fairly respectable reviews so far in the comics world, and would appear to be very much in Vaughn’s wheelhouse, considering he started his directoral career with the excellent gangster picture “Layer Cake.” It all seems pretty up in the air right now, and we’d be surprised if it was Vaughn’s next project — considering the scope and period setting, it may prove expensive — but it does add one more project to the rising director’s dance card.
Mark Millar was interviewed on UK radio last week and said that he and Matthew Vaughn were working on another film together and that there would be an announcement in the summer. I don't think Millar would be adapting Turf so maybe they're working on another superhero franchise.