An update on the Kingsman movie franchise, and over the years, multiple sequels, prequels and spinoffs have been announced.
Vaughn's other spy saga Argylle was even revealed to be a Kingsman spinoff, with that movie's post-credit scene revealing the titular character was trained by the group. The issue is, both the critical and commercial reception to Vaughn's The King's Man and Argylle were pretty poor, with both bombing financially and receiving tepid reviews. The future of the property is now in doubt, with 20th Century Studios boss Steve Asbell recently stating to THR that "There’s no plans on doing them anytime soon," in regard to questions about the Kingsman franchise.
Kingsman: The Blue Blood - Cast, Story & Everything We Know About Kingsman 3
Kingsman: The Blue Blood is the confirmed title for the next Kingsman movie after 2021 prequel The Kings Man. Here's all the Kingsman 3 news so far.
The Kingsman Franchise's Downfall Started With The Disappointing Golden Circle Sequel
Kingsman 2 was a lackluster follow-up
To those who wanted one final adventure with Eggsy (Taron Egerton) and Harry (Colin Firth), this will come as disappointing news. Unfortunately, it's not that big of a surprise, and it feels like the franchise's downfall can be traced to 2017's Kingsman: The Golden Circle. There's no reason this sequel shouldn't have been great; it added new actors to the ensemble like Channing Tatum and Halle Berry, expanded the scope of the series and was loaded with action.
The problem with The Golden Circle was how overstuffed it felt. There were too many characters and subplots, and the action became exhausting instead of exhilarating. It also felt like the movie was more concerned with setting up potential Kingsman sequels and spinoffs - including the introduction of their American counterparts Statesman - than focusing on its own self-contained narrative.
Much of the humor misfired, and the flippant way the film undid Harry's death felt like it robbed the original of its dramatic weight. Vaughn may have felt excited about the future of the series following Kingsman: The Golden Circle, but even those who enjoyed The Secret Service were left largely underwhelmed by the sequel.
Elton John plays himself in Kingsman: The Golden Circle, which later led to Taron Egerton's casting as the singer in the 2019 biopic Rocketman.
The King's Man Failed To Reignite The Franchise In 2021
The Kingsman prequel was the first genuine flop of the series
On paper, The King's Man sounded like a great idea. This took the series back to World War 1, explaining how the Kingsman spy organization was founded and by whom. It helped that The King's Man cast was filled with actors like Ralph Fiennes, Djimon Hounsou and Gemma Arterton, but despite its premise, the film just didn't work. The prequel was an uneasy mix of a glum war movie with a goofy Kingsman sequel - and those tones just don't mesh well.
The Kingsman Franchise |
Rotten Tomatoes |
Box Office Gross |
|---|---|---|
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) |
75% |
$414.4 million |
Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) |
51% |
$410.9 million |
The King's Man (2021) |
41% |
$125.9 million |
Argylle (2024) |
33% |
$96.2 million |
The prequel suffered from a curious lack of energy too, and whereas the original is a breezy adventure, The King's Man's solemn mood cancels out the wackier antics. It also set up a sequel subtitled The Traitor King, that would have pit the agency against Hitler. The reception to the Kingsman prequel appears to have quietly killed plans for a direct follow-up, and if Asbell is to be taken at his word, the property itself appears to have stalled.
What Happens To The Kingsman Franchise Now?
Have the Kingsman been shuttered for good?
In a 2024 Collider chat, Matthew Vaughn explained that the third Kingsman - dubbed The Blue Blood - was taking a long time to come together because he and Taron Egerton had been so busy. He still very much intended to make a third outing, and while 20th Century Studios may have no interest in pursuing it, a third Kingsman is still very much a possibility. As he confirms in the same Collider chat, Vaughn's production company Marv Studios owns the rights to Kingsman and Argylle outright.
... Matthew Vaughn could work out a deal with a streamer like Netflix to produce and distribute Kingsman: The Blue Blood.
This means Vaughn could work out a deal with a streamer like Netflix to produce and distribute Kingsman 3. Despite the response to the most recent entries, reuniting Egerton and Firth for one final entry feels like it would have enough juice to entice skeptical audiences back. If this third installment was well received, it could even reinvigorate Vaughn's plans for the Kingsman universe too.
For now, Asbell's comments have poured cold water on the franchise's immediate future. It seems Vaughn is committed to continuing the series, and it feels like the best way to proceed is to focus on Kingsman 3 and wrapping up the Eggsy saga. It's very doubtful an Argylle /Kingsman crossover or a direct sequel to The King's Man will come together, but the series shouldn't be considered cooked just yet.
Source: THR, Rotten Tomatoes, Box Office Mojo, Collider
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Kingsman is a British-American spy action-comedy franchise that began with the 2014 film Kingsman: 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 TV series, continuing to explore the world of espionage with a unique and satirical flair.
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Kingsman: The Golden Circle
8/10- Release Date
- September 22, 2017
- Runtime
- 2h 21m
- Director
- Matthew Vaughn
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYKingsman: The Golden Circle, the second film in the Kingman franchise, is based on the comic book series of the same name by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons. Kingsman: The Golden Circle continues the story of Eggsy (Taron Egerton), now codenamed Galahad. When a mysterious cartel known as the Golden Circle threatens international security, Eggsy must travel to America to request the help of the Statesman agency. The Golden Circle sees Egerton, Mark Strong, and Colin Firth reprise their roles from the previous film, and also introduces Julianne Moore, Channing Tatum, Pedro Pascal, Halle Berry, and Jeff Bridges to the franchise in ing roles.
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