In a change of pace from his recent fare, Oscar winner Colin Firth is in negotiations to star in Matthew Vaughn's adaptation of popular Marvel comic series "The Secret Service," according to Latino Review.
Several individuals familiar with the 20th Century Fox project previously told TheWrap that Vaughn had tapped Firth for the lead role, though a studio spokesperson referred all casting inquiries to the director's production company Marv Films, which is financing the film.
David Reid and Adam Bohling, who are currently producing "Kick-Ass 2" with Vaughn and are expected to be involved in a producing capacity on "Secret Service," did not reply to TheWrap's earlier requests for comment, nor did Mark Millar, who created the graphic novel with Dave Gibbons.
Should a deal make, Firth would play a veteran secret agent who leads a young protege into the shadowy spy business.
Millar previously described the project as "James Bond meets My Fair Lady," while Firth told one website during a press tour for "Arthur Newman" that Vaughn's movie will be "unlike anything I've done."
Vaughn, who last directed "X-Men: First Class" for Fox, is producing and directing from a script he co-wrote with frequent collaborator Jane Goldman. Shooting is scheduled to start this August overseas.
20th Century Fox, which beat out Universal Pictures for distribution rights, plans to release "The Secret Service" on Nov. 14, 2014.
The lead role in "Secret Service" will likely introduce Firth to a different audience, as he's best known for lighter fare such as "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Mamma Mia," though he did recently play a government agent in "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy." The British actor won an Oscar for "The King's Speech" and was also nominated for his sensitive performance in "A Single Man." He'll soon be seen in the West Memphis 3 movie "Devil's Knot."
Firth is repped by CAA and Independent Talent Group.
