‘Kingsman’: Matthew Vaughn Denies Liam Neeson’s Involvement; Next Film Won’t Be Called ‘The Great Game’ [Exclusive]

It’s no surprise that director/producer Matthew Vaughn is a massive fan of espionage. Having grown up on the classic James Bond films, the director considers himself a certified “Bond-aholic.” Perhaps this is why Vaughn has such a strong desire to continue expanding his own personal riff on Bond, the zany and kinetic ‘Kingsman’ franchise. “I nearly directed a Bond [film]. And I didn’t get the chance, but you know, if you can’t beat em, join em, or if you can’t join em, beat em, whatever the expression is. So yeah, I love spy movies, I love ‘Austin Powers,’ ‘In Like Flint,’ ‘Bourne,’ ‘24,’ you name it. I’m an espionage freak, so this was my version” stated Vaughn during my interview for the upcoming Elton John biopic “Rocketman,” which he produced (our review).

READ MORE: ‘Rocketman’: Taron Egerton Anchors Dexter Fletcher’s Flashy Elton John Biopic [Cannes Review]

For a brief moment, Vaughn was heavily considered to direct Daniel Craig’s inaugural Bond outing in 2006’s “Casino Royale,” but unfortunately lost out to Bond veteran Martin Campbell. While the idea of a Matthew Vaughn Bond film is intriguing, “Kingsman” afforded Vaughn a new sandbox to play in and concoct crazy and eccentric spy stories. And that sandbox continues to expand with not only “Kingsman: The Secret Service” and “Kingsman: The Golden Circle,” but a prequel film (once titled “The Great Game”) due out February of 2020 and a proper “Kingsman 3.” During our conversation, Vaughn offered insight into what we can expect from the franchise’s next two installments.

“Next year you’re getting ‘The Great Game.’ It’s wrapped. [But] it’s not actually called the ‘Great Game.’ I don’t know what it’s going to be called. That’s a working title. We wrapped last week, so we’re very excited about it. It’s incredibly different,” he explained. “Like I said, I love spy movies, and this is a very very different tone and style and as a spy film, that no one’s made in a long, long time. And then we hope to shoot ‘Kingsman 3’ either late this year or early next year, but it won’t be out until 2021, so, who knows? If everyone likes the next two movies—there’s two more to come, hopefully, people like them enough that we can count on making another one. MARV Films [Vaughn’s production company] loves spy films, so I’d love to always be making them, and, ‘Kingsman,’ I think, the whole point about ‘Kingsman’ is a celebration of espionage. And ‘Kingsman’ will always make the spy film that no one else is touching.”

READ MORE: Matthew Vaughn Confirms ‘Kingsman 3’ Will Finish Eggsy/Harry Relationship & Will Likely Film This Year

Vaughn also offered up some clarification regarding actor Liam Neeson’s rumored involvement in the prequel film.

“No, he’s not [in it]! I don’t know where that came from, it’s funny,” he explained of the false casting news. “No, I was like—everyone’s saying ‘Hey! Hey Liam’s’—I said look, I just wrapped the movie and unless he’s got some amazing prosthetics and he’s playing some character I didn’t know about, he ain’t in the film. Never had a discussion. I love Liam Neeson. And I’d love for him to be in it, but no, I have no idea where that came from. I don’t know where that was written—I think it was Deadline. And they got the names of –I don’t know, it was weird, don’t know where that came from. I mean, it was odd. I mean If I’m going to say someone’s in it who’s not in it I should be saying Leo (Leonardo) DiCaprio or someone, you know what I mean?”

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It seems the secrets of the ‘Kingsman Prequel’ only gets more mysterious as little is indeed known about the project aside from an impressive cast (including Ralph Fiennes), a World War I backdrop, and the release date. As for “Kingsman 3,” well even less is known, and though I tried to attain just a sliver of information, the director was vague on details but is ultimately excited for everyone to see the result.

“You can expect the unexpected is all I’ll say. But they both go on a journey that—we’re literally finishing the script off as I speak—but they go on a journey that, if anyone sees it coming, then I’ll give up” stated, Vaughn. “People will either freak out in a good way, or freak out in a bad way, but they will freak out.”

As vague as his statements may be, hearing Vaughn’s excitement for the project and knowing his love for the spy genre only piques my interest further in what is sure to be a mad dash to the finish. Now two films in with two more on the horizon and rumblings of a “Statesman” spin-off and “Kingsman” TV series, there’s no stopping Vaughn’s ambitions of shaping “Kingsman” into the next great spy franchise.

You can hear the full interview with Matthew Vaughn about producing “Rocketman” and the “Kingsman” franchise tomorrow.