Matthew Vaughn On Balancing Drama & Humor With ‘The King’s Man’
Hitting US Theaters on Dec. 22 from 20th Century Studios is “The King’s Man,” a prequel to Matthew Vaughn’s “Kingsman” films set in the World War 1 era and bringing historical villains to life with larger-than-life personas and Vaughn’s signature style and thrilling action.
As a collection of history's worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions, one man must race against time to stop them. Discover the origins of the very first independent intelligence agency in “The King's Man.”
“The King’s Man” is directed by Matthew Vaughn and stars Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, with Djimon Hounsou, and Charles Dance.
Very recently Blackfilmandtv.com, among other journalists, had a conversation with Vaughn about this film and his upcoming projects. Here’s a bit of what he had to say regarding The King’s Man.
Is there's more than just beyond the Kingsman and Statesman?
Matthew Vaughn: And round the corner is Kingsman 3, all ready to go. We've done all the art and stuff. But underneath Kingsman 3, it’s The King’s Man 2, Statesman and we did have some fun thinking, if we did the spinoff in the streaming television world, whatever that is nowadays, of the Statesman and that worked, it might be fun to do local language stuff. Like a Spanish Man, a Hombre Man or whatever, a Spanish something Hombre. I can't speak Spanish. A Re-Real Hombre, how's that?
So yeah, but we don't want to overdo it and over saturate, and it's one step at a time. This was the experiment. I'm so used to having this bloody logo by me. It's not that The King’s Man is, that's the experiment, see? Can the franchise expand into two different shapes and forms but still have the world of Kingsman underneath it. So, if people like it and go see it, then yeah, we'll keep expanding. I get bored very easily. So, I'm always wanting to do things differently. I love celebrating culture. I think why Kingsman worked, it was a celebration of British culture.
Statesman was me leaning into my love of American culture. I grew up with those movies in the 70s and 80s, and the musics. I love so much about America, that I felt that's what Statesman could be. The other countries, they've got everywhere. There's so many unique characteristics to each country that it would be fun. Like we're mucking around about the French, and when we were like saying, [LAUGH] We even thought, could we have Agent Camembert, Agent Brie, and they’re have fun with the French and lean into the cliches of France, but then celebrate them. Who knows? But the answer is, if people want it, we'll keep making it.
Rhys Ifan's Rasputin licking Ralph Fiennes’ leg scar was one of the funniest things I've seen all year. How funny was that, uh, filming that scene on set?
Matthew Vaughn: It was weird. I was really ill that week. I have a slightly warped view of it, but it got me through being sick. Rhys and Ralph needed no encouragement. I mean, there was stuff that didn't make the cut, I'll just say. They went off reservation, and I put in as much when he started licking the wound, and all I'll say, that wasn't all that got licked. And it was pretty incredible to watch.
Can you talk about the decision to adding in the real history and the tone of balancing that between dramatic and humor, knowing what's to come in the films that’s set after this film already?
Matthew Vaughn: It was tough. It was very tricky, but ultimately, I have a rule. Whether it's action or drama, it's all about do what the narrative is telling you to do at that point. With The King’s Man, it was all about going back in time, and set in World War One, and all these-the folklore was written in Kingsman 1 between Harry and Eggsy. Harry explained to Eggsy where it came from. So, I had no choice. I had to embrace that tone, because I think making, silly, crazy, over the top action sequences during the trenches in World War One, and losing a son, not the thing to make fun.
But other areas like Rasputin, I can transpose Rasputin into any Kingsman movie and he's going to fit right in. So it was just taking those moments and this is the nascent King’s Man. This is about the birth of King’s Man, so it had to start somewhere very different. But ultimately, what happens in this movie does pay off in the the Kingsman movies.
So it was a balance of-of keeping it real to what was happening, but also always trying to keep it entertaining. I think just because something's heavy sometimes or historical, doesn't mean it needs to be boring.