MUMBAI: Lionsgate has acquired the US and Canadian distribution rights to Kick-Ass, the action-comedy from writer/director Matthew Vaughn.

Based on the best-selling comic by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr., Kick-Ass stars Nicolas Cage, Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Chloe Moretz. The screenplay is written by Vaughn and Jane Goldman. The producers are Matthew Vaughn, Brad Pitt, Tarquin Pack and Kris Thykier; Millar and Romita Jr. are co-producers.

Kick-Ass was the buzz sensation of the July Comic-Con in San Diego, where early footage was shown to wildly appreciative fans. The film is a privately financed independent production from Vaughn’s Marv Films and Plan B Entertainment, and is currently in post-production. Lionsgate anticipates a wide release in 2010.

Lionsgate president of acquisitions and co-productions Jason Constantine said, "Matthew Vaughn is an amazing talent and a true original, and he has brought a whole new mindset to the action genre with Kick-Ass. Kick-Ass redefines the boundaries in terms of humor, action, story, character and tone — it’s the kind of movie that reminds us of why we go to the movies in the first place. Lionsgate is thrilled to bring Kick-Ass home to give it the next-generation launching pad it deserves."

Vaughn added, "Making and financing Kick-Ass has been an amazing experience, and we’ve had two important goals from the start: make a singularly entertaining film and find the right studio to release it. With Lionsgate, I know that I’ve got a supportive and fearless team behind me. It’s going to be fun working together to bring the film to audiences and those who are already fans of the comic book."

Pack said, "The massive response we received at Comic-Con has been hugely important in launching the next wave of momentum for the film, and Lionsgate’s marketing and distribution talents are a perfect fit for us. Lionsgate is a studio that is not afraid to do things differently, and that is the attitude that has characterized Kick-Ass from the very start."