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Exclusive: Chris Hemsworth (Thor & Extraction movies) and Sam Rockwell are “helping out” their stunt-world buddies in the first of an initial four-part movie series called Stuntnuts – yes, it’s a palindrome- which are being made under Matthew Vaughn’s Marv Films banner.

You may have spotted the Stuntnuts title being introduced in the trailer- directed by Vaughn- that Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg recently posted on his official Instagram page to promote Meta’s RayBan Smart Glasses.

It features Zuckerberg, initially seen with an arm ablaze, launching into a series of stunt set pieces with John Cena and Benson Boone choreographed to the tune of Junior Senior’s high energy pop classic Move Your Feet (And Feel United) .

Teaser ends with a befuddled Zuckerberg looking at his torched arm, exclaiming: “Hey, Meta, am I on fire?” You can watch it here:

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Remember the halcyon days of 2010? The Marvel Cinematic Universe was still in its infancy, but much was already being made of any superhero movie that felt even slightly different from the future juggernaut's quippy origin stories. Future DC Studios co-ceo James Gunn's name was already in the middle of conversations about superhero ethics thanks to his new film "Super," while fans of Alan Moore's "Watchmen" comics were still debating the merits and myriad drawbacks of Zack Snyder's big-screen adaptation. From "The Spirit" to "Hancock," recent alternative superhero stories were actively dividing audiences who had yet to lay eyes on a single "Avengers" film.

Then "Kick-Ass" showed up. The R-rated action-comedy featured a scrappy teen hero, a little girl who loved to beat the s**t out of people, a fittingly odd Nicolas Cage performance, and the unofficially cinematic mascot of the late aughts, "Superbad" breakout star Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

The Matthew Vaughn-produced The Stuntman is the second in a new trilogy spun out of 2010’s superhero deconstruction, Kick-Ass.

Matthew Vaughn’s Argylle might not have landed in the manner that he’d have liked, but the filmmaker is already busying himself with his next big project. That will be a trilogy of films that are said to spin-off from Kick-Ass, Vaughn’s 2010 mayhem-filled satire of the superhero genre.

The first film in the trilogy is reportedly titled School Fight and focuses on ‘a teenager who fights with a classmate over a mutual romantic interest.’

That one was completed a while ago, with footage being shared as far back as 2022. As it stands though, we still don’t have a release date for the film, but we do know that it was directed by former stuntman Damien Walters, making his directorial debut. Walters also did some second unit directing on the aforementioned Argylle.

“Argylle” may be 2024’s first box-office dud, but that’s not stopping Matthew Vaughn from prepping the next film in his new “Kick-Ass” movies. Variety reports that the second movie in the upcoming trilogy, which culminates in a “Kick-Ass” reboot, is already in production in England, with stunt man-turned-director Damien Walters helming the project. And the name of the movie? “The Stuntman“; an appropriate title, given Walters’ working history with Vaughn.

Continue reading ‘The Stuntman’: The Second Film In Matthew Vaughn’s Upcoming ‘Kick-Ass’ Trilogy Is Already In Production With Damien Walters Directing at The Playlist.

Matthew Vaughn is already deep into producing his next feature film, a caper titled “The Stuntman,” Variety has learned.

Helmed by stunt performer turned director Damien Walters, the film tells the story of two brothers who both become stuntmen.

The feature, which is currently in production, comes from Vaughn’s Marv Studios banner along with Walters’ Zebbo Productions. Last October, they shot in Hampshire, where a local newspaper reported a “1970s-style fun fair” had been installed in the village park, complete with a helter skelter and ferris wheel.

“The Stuntman” is aiming for a launch at Toronto later this year or Sundance in 2025 and is part of a new “Kick-Ass” trilogy, according to Vaughn.

The first film of the trilogy, also produced by Vaughn and directed by Walters, was called “School Fight” and told the story of a teenager who gets into a fight with a love rival at school.

Matthew Vaughn confirms his new Kick-Ass film is still coming – and it sounds like it’ll be part three of a new trilogy of films.

Nearly 15 years since he first brought us the film Kick-Ass, director Matthew Vaughn is continuing to promise that a reboot of the films is on the way.

Vaughn is currently promoting his new movie Argylle, and has thus been talking to a bunch of outlets – not us, sadly – about the film. And the subject of his previously-mooted Kick-Ass reboot has come up. He sounds quite happy to talk about it, too, confirming to Collider that he’s about half-way through penning the screenplay at the moment.

He does tease some details about the approach that’s been taken. “It’s gonna be a cliché coming out of this head of mine”, he admits, as he says “it is a very, very meta universe”.

He explains further.

After a blockbuster debut in 2022, the London Action Festival is set to return this summer for its second edition.

The festival is timed to be squarely in the middle of the summer action movie season. This summer will see the release of “Fast X,” “Kandahar,” “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,” “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” and “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning – Part One” in the May-July time frame and the festival will unspool June 21-25.

Highlights of the inaugural edition included The World’s Greatest Screening Ever… Probably! – an enhanced screening experience of “Die Hard” with director John McTiernan; a making of “Jurassic World Dominion” with an Academy Award-winning VFX panel presented by Proof Inc. and director Colin Trevorrow participating; exclusive previews of season 2 of Sky original “Gangs of London” with director Corin Hardy and Marv’s “School Fight” from stunt coordinator turned director Damien Walters; and...

Calling all action fans and aspiring film-makers! The London Action Festival is set to take place in the capital at the end of the July. This first of its kind four-day event focuses on film’s most “globally produced and successful genre” with a host of industry speakers, screenings, previews, panels, courses, quizzes, live music, comedy and other genre related fun stuff.

The festival kicks off in the evening of Thursday 28th July with a special screening of Die Hard followed by a Q&a with director John McTiernan (and other Tba guests). The following evening will feature an action packed “Friday Night Showdown” at the Royal Geographical Society Building, with a schedule of “very special panel events, comedy, music and guests of honour.”

Saturday 30th will start with a screening of 80s sci-fi action classic Predator, celebrating its 35th anniversary at Picturehouse Central, also followed by Q&a with director John McTiernan.

The inaugural London Action Festival (July 28-31) will open with a screening of “Die Hard,” with director John McTiernan and other guests in attendance at a Q&a. McTiernan’s “Predator” will also screen at the festival.

Visual effects in “Jurassic World: Dominion” will be explored via a masterclass from senior visualization supervisor Pawl Fulker, partner and creative director, Proof London Ltd and Dave Vickery, visual effects supervisor, Ilm, with the involvement of director Colin Trevorrow. This panel event is presented by Proof Inc. who celebrate their 20th anniversary this year.

With the support of “Kingsman” director Matthew Vaughn’s U.K. studio Marv, the festival will screen exclusive footage from their new action movie “School Fight,” marking the debut of stunt coordinator Damien Walters as director. Walters will deliver a masterclass on making the leap from stunt professional to director and cast members Greg Townley and Bobby Holland Hanton,...

Matthew Vaughn’s Marv is teaming with Warner Music Group (Wmg) on joint venture Marv Music.

Through a multi-year, worldwide agreement, the newly formed Marv Music label will work with new and established artists to create original music for films as well as standalone soundtrack and film-inspired album releases.

With the launch of the label, Colin Barlow – former head of Polydor Records, RCA Records UK, and Geffen UK – has joined Marv Music as President, overseeing development, production, and distribution.

The label’s first release will be a joint release with Parlophone entitled ‘Measure of a Man,’ performed by FKA twigs featuring Central Cee and written by Ivor Novello winner Jamie Hartman, John Hill, Amanda Ghost, Dominic Lewis, Jane Goldman, and Matthew Vaughn.

The song will be released on 19th November 2021 and will be featured in Vaughn’s 20th Century Studios’ film, The King’s Man, which is released in December.

Another upcoming Marv film,...

Apple Original Films and Matthew Vaughn’s Marv have partnered on the spy thriller “Argylle,” based on the debut novel by first-time author Ellie Conway, according to an individual with knowledge of the project.

Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, John Cena and Dua Lipa will all star in the project. “Argylle” will be Lipa’s first movie role, and the pop star will also provide original music for the film.

“Argylle” is based on the upcoming debut novel of the same name by Conway, which will be published in 2022 by Transworld Publishers Ltd, a division of Penguin Random House.

It follows Argylle, the world’s greatest spy, as he is caught up in a globe-trotting adventure. The film will be the first of at least three movies in the franchise and is set in America, London and multiple locations across the world.

“Kick-Ass” and “Kingsman” director Matthew Vaughn has set an all-star cast for what will be his next film, a spy thriller called “Argylle.”

Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, John Cena and pop star Dua Lipa will all star in the project. “Argylle” will be Lipa’s first film role. She will also provide original music for the title track and score.

The film comes from Vaughn’s production company Marv, and the company has set plans to begin filming on “Argylle” this August in Europe.

“Argylle” is based on the upcoming debut novel Ellie Conway, which will be published in 2022 by Transworld Publishers Ltd, a division of Penguin Random House.

It follows Argylle, the world’s greatest spy, as he is caught up in a globe-trotting adventure. The film will be the first of at least three films in the franchise and is set in America,...

Matthew Vaughn has set an all-star cast for his next big budget action project, which will start shooting this August in Europe.

Argylle, which Vaughn will direct and produce via his banner Marv, will star Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, John Cena and Samuel L. Jackson.

Pop star Dua Lipa will make her acting debut on the project and will provide original music for the title track and score.

The film, based on the soon to be launched spy novel Argylle from author Ellie Conway, follows “the world’s greatest spy” ‘Argylle’ as he is caught up in a globe-trotting adventure.

The movie will be the first of at least three films in the franchise and is set in America, London and multiple locations across the world.

Conway’s debut thriller is scheduled to be published in a major launch in 2022 by Transworld Publishers Ltd,...

“Kingsman” director Matthew Vaughn has signed up an all-star cast for his new film franchise “Argylle,” which will be produced by Vaughn’s U.K.-based studio Marv.

Henry Cavill (“Man of Steel”), Sam Rockwell (“Moon”), Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”), Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”), Catherine O’Hara (“Schitt’s Creek”), John Cena (“Bumblebee”) and Samuel L. Jackson (“Avengers: Endgame”) are all set to appear in the spy thriller.

Marv is already planning at least three films in the franchise, which is based on a debut novel of the same name by first-time author Ellie Conway.

The thriller is set to be published next year by Transworld Publishers Ltd., a division of Penguin Random House. Shooting on the film will begin in Europe this August.

The film (and book) will follow the globe-trotting adventures of a super-spy named Argylle across the U.S., London and other exotic locations. Pop singer Dua Lipa...

Exclusive: Kingsman and Kick-Ass producer Marv has hired former Lionsgate Europe CEO Zygi Kamasa as Group CEO.

Kamasa will run Matthew Vaughn’s lucrative UK production firm, overseeing the expansion of the Kingsman franchise as well all global sales, marketing and distribution of films, TV series and merchandising. The move will give writer-producer-director Vaughn licence to concentrate on creative output.

Kamasa left Lionsgate this summer after a 15-year stint at the studio where he oversaw Lionsgate’s European expansion, backed more than 40 British films and released many of the studio’s biggest hits, including franchises The Hunger Games, The Expendables, John Wick and Olympus Has Fallen. He sold his first company Redbus to Lionsgate for $35M in 2005. He first worked with Vaughn on 2016 feature Eddie The Eagle with Hugh Jackman and Taron Egerton.

Marv’s prequel The King’s Man, which is directed, produced and co-written by Vaughn, is due for release in February 2021 through Disney.

Rob Leane Dec 27, 2016

Assassin’s Creed’s Justin Kurzel talks PG-13 violence, filming the leap of faith and, um, Step Brothers...

Australian director Justin Kurzel made a big splash on the indie circuit with his based-on-a-true-story murder spree drama Snowtown back in 2011. Michael Fassbender was impressed when he saw it, and ended up working with Kurzel on his 2015 Macbeth movie.

The Fass must’ve been impressed again when they filmed it, as he soon recruited Kurzel to direct Assassin’s Creed, the videogame flick that Fassbender had been producing for years and was set to star in (playing dual roles as modern day death row inmate Cal and his Spanish assassin ancestor Aguilar).

Kurzel and Fassbender also reteamed with their Lady Macbeth, Marion Cotillard, for the game adaptation (she plays an employee of megacorporation Abstergo Industries, the company that sends Cal back into his ancestor's shoes), resulting in an action...

Stunt work in movies has got to be one of the most fun and exhilarating jobs in the film business. I've got an awesome video for you to watch today that's dedicated to the craft of stunt performers. It takes us through the evolution of stunts in film, and it features British Damien Walters, who is a freerunner, former gymnast, and stunt performer who worked on films such as Kick-Ass, Captain America: The First Avenger, Kingsman: The Secret Service, and the upcoming film Assassin’s Creed.

The video is presented to us in a spectacular way, and I think you're really going to enjoy how it all comes together. The question is, "How many famous movie stunts can you spot in this two-and-a-half minutes of mayhem?"...

Here are a bunch of little bites to satisfy your hunger for movie culture:   Film History of the Day: Stuntman Damien Walters chronicles the evolution of movie stunts in an amazing single performance in this video presented by Honda (via Collider):   Reimagined Movie of the Day: The Witch actually looks almost as good as Wes Anderson movie in this lighthearted reworking of the horror film:   Movie Comparison of the Day: Is Pixar repeating itself with its sequels? Couch Tomato shows us 24 reasons Finding Dory is the same movie as Toy Story 2:   Cosplay of the Day: As we get closer to the release of Rogue One, we'll probably be seeing more Star Wars cosplay, like this terrific Gonk droid getup...

Read More...

There’s been an effort to recognize stunt work with its own Academy Award in recent years, and it’s easy to see why in “The Evolution of Stunts with Damien Walters.” Walters, a former gymnast, has performed stunt work in such films as “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” “Captain America: The First Avenger” and next month’s “Assassin’s Creed.” Watch a two-and-a-half minute sample of his work below.

Read More: ‘Assassin’s Creed’ Trailer: Michael Fassbender Hopes To Save The Video Game Genre In Visionary Style

The allusive video contains callbacks to several famous movie scenes: the plane flying overhead in “North by Northwest,” the house falling on Buster Keaton in “Steamboat Bill Jr.” and wire-fu reminiscent of “The Matrix” and its predecessors. It begins with comparatively low-key stunts and escalates from there, culminating in the stuntman doing a front flip while on fire.

Read More: ‘Daredevil’:...

We’ve all seen the Evolution of Dance, but you’ve seen nothing like the Evolution of Stunts. Forerunner and stunt performer Damien Walters, with the the help of Honda and All4, takes us through different movie stunts from throughout the years (including the crop-duster scene from North by Northwest and some Matrix moves), all through the use of a treadmill, floor projections, and some very real fire. To see how it all came together, including how to safely set a man on fire, check out the behind scenes video below:...

For as long as we've been making movies, people have been performing death-defying stunts in those movies for the entertainment of millions. With the help of Honda and All4, Channel 4's on-demand channel in the U.K., Damien Walters brought several of cinema's famous stunts to life in an entertaining video titled The Evolution of Movie Stunts. Walters, a British free-runner, former gymnast... Read More...

Take a look @ new footage from the set of director Justin Kurzel's live-action 3D feature "Assassin's Creed", based on the video game series, opening December 2016, as stuntman Damien Walters, doubles actor Michael Fassbender as 'Aguilar de Nerha', in a 125 foot free-fall leap, noted as one of the highest jumps ever captured on film:

"...through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, 'Callum Lynch' (Fassbender) experiences the adventures of his ancestor 'Aguilar', in 15th Century Spain.

"Callum discovers he is descended from the mysterious 'Assassins' secret society...

"...amassing knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful 'Templars' in the present day..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Assassin's Creed: The Leap Of Faith"...

Ask any fan of Assassin’s Creed the first thing they when they boot up the game, and more often than not the answer is, “go to the top of the tallest building and jump off it”. The breath taking Leap of Faith has been a staple of the game series since the the beginning (the latest, Victorian London set iteration, Syndicate, lets you leap off Big Ben), and if you watch the trailer for the upcoming, Michael Fassbender starring adaption you would have seen it made the cut for the game’s jump to the big screen. But instead of the leap been done in CG, director Justin Kurzel wanted it to feel real as possible, which leads us to this amazing behind the scenes video where stuntman Damien Walters recreates the 125 feet dive in real life, pulling off one of the highest free falls preformed by a stuntman in over thirty years.

Fox has released an impressive behind-the-scenes featurette for the upcoming Assassin's Creed movie, which opens in theaters in December. Dubbed the "Leap of Faith", the video focuses on stuntman Damien Walters' free fall jump - which was filmed on camera. Jumping from a height of 125 feet, it's one of the highest stuntman free falls in almost 35 years. Walters is the stunt double for Michael Fassbender in the film, playing Aguilar, a Master Assassin sent back in time to unlock the secrets of his ancestry. You've seen the leap they filmed in the trailer - jumping off of the top of one of the buildings in ancient Florence. And in this featurette you can see them setting up and actually pulling off the stunt, and it's kind of awesome. I like that they're sharing this now, before release, not just as a Special Feature on the DVD next year. Take a look.

[This is entry #1 from my set diary for Fox's upcoming cinematic adaptation of the Ubisoft video game Assassin's Creed. In this entry, I'll focus on the set itself, the design elements, and some of the filmmaking philosophy that's gone into this ambitious adaptation.]

It was a characteristically rainy, gray, dreary day in London as I sat down in a small van to get shuttled to the set of Assassin’S Creed. Full disclosure, this was going to be my first-ever set visit. While I’ve gotten offers before, this was the first time I was actually able to take a studio up on one. I remember there was a euphoric glaze that came over my brain as we pulled away from the city and started heading off into the suburbs to visit Pinewood Studios in Leavesden. For a lifelong film nerd like me, getting to go to Pinewood is like getting to visit the Emerald City or something. My mind was racing with the questions I’d ask Michael Fassbender and co., while also trying to remain open to taking in every moment of this experience.

Suddenly, there it was. We drove under...

Hollywood stuntman and Daniel Craig‘s “Skyfall” double Damien Walters backflipped over a Formula E car without effort, although the racer was speeding toward him at 60 mph. Walters dubbed the stunt “Leap of Faith,” saying, “I have done some other crazy things, but this was definitely one of the worst for sure. Had I jumped too early, I would have hit the back of the car with my head, and if I jumped too late, the car would have hit my legs.” In the video, we can see Walters preparing for the jump several times, performing the flip beside the moving car,...

We refuse to believe that summer is over. Granted, since it's still 90 degrees in much of the country, we're still in that in-between where we're downing Pumpkin Spice Lattes while rocking shorts and a tank. To help in keeping with the endless summer mindset, Damien Walters' latest viral stunt video has us feeling like we're back at a backyard pool party. You know, after the first few wine coolers when one of your friends suggests it is time to get fancy with the water sports? The gymnast/stuntman and his crew had a few Airtrack mats lying around and decided to hose them down with soapy water to create a badass Slip 'N Slide, and the results were pretty epic! Set to The...

Matthew Vaughn has become something of a go-to filmmaker for quality comic book movies, having worked on the well-received X-Men: First Class and the adaptation of Mark Millar and John Romita Jr's offbeat superhero adventure Kick-Ass.

Now he's back with Kingsman: The Secret Service, based on a concept he and Millar hatched together. Millar and Watchmen co-creator Dave Gibbons have already published the story as a comic book, and now Vaughn is working on the film version, which is less an adaptation than his own imagining of the original idea.

Vaughn has attracted a top cast, including Colin Firth and Mark Strong (who appeared together in a very different take on the spy genre, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) as well as Samuel L Jackson, Michael Caine and newcomer Taron Egerton.

The film centres around council estate kid Eggsy (Egerton), a young tearaway bailed out of jail by his late father's...

Colin Firth plays a suave intelligence agent who grooms a teen delinquent (British newcomer Taron Egerton) into a superspy in Kingsman: The Secret Service (out Oct. 24). The film — co-starring Michael Caine and a villainous Samuel L. Jackson — is based on the beloved comic book by Kick-Ass creator Mark Millar, itself a riff on Millar and director Matthew Vaughn’s mutual love of old espionage flicks.

“We missed all the spy movies we loved as kids, whether it was Bond or ‘In Like Flint.’ They had a sense of humor as well as being a thriller,” says Vaughn, who dreamed up...

Will Farrell and Jimmy Fallon in drag, Boris Johnson on Westminster power, and the world's fastest two-seater car

There's a bit of a rap theme to this week's selection, kicking off with Justin Timberlake joining Jimmy Fallon for the latest instalment of his history of rap. Meanwhile, NBC Nightly News managing editor and anchor Brian Williams raps The Sugar Hill Gang's classic Rapper's Delight – with a little help from a few friends. And if you thought that blend of words and music was impressive, you will love our amazing tongue twister rap – the video features the 67th take apparently!

Michelle Obama appeared on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Will Ferrell in drag to promote her Let's Move! campaign. In a sketch for a fake Nickelodeon show called Ew!, she popped in to show "Stacy" and "Sarah" why eating right and exercising are not "ew!" things to do.

No one knows...

By Colleen Wanglund, MoreHorror.com

Horrorfind Weekend 14

Once again Labor Day weekend rolled around and it was time for another trip to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania for the Horrorfind Weekend Convention.

The convention combines all things horror—books, movies, collectibles, etc—and that’s what I really enjoy about it. Last year I had a blast, getting to meet authors I knew online in person and hang out with friends who live in other parts of the country but gather in Gettysburg once a year.

This year’s movie guests included Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange {1971}, Halloween {2007}, and Adult Swim’s Metalocalypse), Ray Wise (Robocop {1987} and David Lynch’s Twin Peaks), Doug Bradley (the Hellraiser series), Mary Woronov (The House Of The Devil {2009}, Eating Raoul {1982}, Death Race 2000 {1975}) and Patty Mullen (Frankenhooker {1990}).

There were quite a few authors representing the small horror press Samhain Publishing, including John Everson, Brian Moreland, David Bernstein,...

Damien Walters is a self-described “professional stuntman, gymnastics coach and free runner.” So what does this mean for you? This means that every year, Damien, who I’m renaming “Not human probably an alien,” releases a special show reel of him doing flips, twists, turns, and stunts that boggle the mind and coccyx. Here is a comparison of things Damien can do vs. things I can do: Damien does a backflip over a patio table and manages to put a hat on his head without using his hands. I can splash a third of my latte on myself at Starbucks while attempting a bold move of putting a Splenda in it. This is just one example of both of our talents. Here’s the real question though: How is this guy not on some kind of Olympic team? I don’t think I’ve ever witness anyone this strong and limber.

Somehow, when I read that Showtime was going to turn Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, the Couple Who Taught America How to Love into a television show, I was expecting an older William Masters, and not sexy Paul Bettany.

Conceptual artist Marina Abramović is under fire for her planned dinner Saturday night at the Moca Gala. She's auditioned performers to lay nude on and under the dining tables so that attendees can gawk at and fondle them. Some will be placed on lazy susans under the tables with just their head protruding.

I had completely missed the news that Rob Reiner was working on a movie about the Prop 8 legal case. Reiner is of course a major funder of the Afer court case winding through the courts.

While over at Gizmodo Mat Honan is forbidden to speak about what he thought of the actual movie The Muppets,...