Lionsgate has picked up North American rights from Matthew Vaughn to his action-comedy Kick-Ass that is currently in post-production.

The studio plans a wide 2010 release on the film, which Vaughn co-wrote with Jane Goldman and produced alongside Brad Pitt, Tarquin Pack and Kris Thykier.

Nicolas Cage stars with Aaron Johnson, who plays John Lennon in the upcoming Nowhere Boy. Rounding out the cast are Christopher Mintz-Plasse from Superbad and Chloe Moretz from the current US sleeper hit (500) Days Of Summer.

Based on the comic by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr, Kick-Ass follows an aspiring superhero with no powers who discovers a sub-culture of like-minded vigilantes.

Vaughn brought early footage of the project to Comic-Con in late July. His Marv Films and Plan B Entertainment produced and financed.

Lionsgate’s president of acquisitions and co-productions Jason Constantine said the film “redefines the boundaries in terms of humour, action, story, character and tone.”

Constantine and senior vice-president of acquisitions and co-productions Eda Kowan and executive vice-president of business and legal affairs, acquisitions and co-productions Wendy Jaffe negotiated with WME and Matthew Johnson of Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca, Fischer, Gilbert-Lurie, Stiffelman, Cook, Johnson, Lande & Wolf on behalf of the filmmakers.

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