Despite not being based on one of Mark Millar’s more popular comics, Matthew Vaughn’s ultraviolent spy movie Kingsman: The Secret Service was a big hit and earned raves from surprised audiences and critics — possibly foreshadowing the success of Deadpool in the same slot the following year. A sequel was ordered almost immediately, with the (surviving) cast tapped to return.
One of the questions regarding the cast of Kingsman 2 was if and how star Colin Firth might return to the role of Harry Hart/Galahad, and who would be taking on the role of the film’s central villain. While the answers to those two questions are still up in the air, it seems another role is ready to be filled by none other than Halle Berry.
According to Deadline, Berry is being sought to play the head of the CIA for a 2 picture deal — which would be the first indication that Fox may expect Kingsman to become a trilogy. It is unclear whether Berry’s character would be a hero or villain, though rumors have also claimed that Julianne Moore is up for the role as the sequel’s main villain, so we’ll just have to wait and see once all the casting details have been worked out.
Fox has tentatively scheduled the sequel for a June 2017 release, placing it in a prime summer slot. However, it remains to be seen how the property will perform now that there are actual expectations being placed on it. Part of what turned the original film into a minor phenomenon was that, despite being based on published source material, the movie was the first time most audiences had heard of the concept. It also hadn’t been nearly as mass-marketed as other films in the genre, leading many to be genuinely surprised by the final film’s scope, screenplay, and unspoiled moments (like the McDonald’s banquet and the now-legendary church massacre).
Berry is a sought-after prospect for features once again now that her commitment to the canceled series Extant has ended and her role as Storm has been re-cast in the new continuity of the X-Men films. In addition to the potential turn in Kingsman 2, she has the child-abduction drama Kidnap due out on May 13 of this year. Egerton, currently earning praise for Eddie the Eagle, has Sing and The Billionaire Boys Club hitting before Kingsman 2 and the lead role in Robin Hood: Origins slated for 2017.
Kingsman 2 will open in U.S. theaters on June 16th, 2017.
