Colin Firth’s character may have extolled the virtues of the mantra “Manners maketh man” in this year’s excellent spy/action pastiche Kingsman: The Secret Service, but its director certainly isn’t following that credo when it comes to making the sequel. The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Matthew Vaughn has won his cinematic cold war with Lionsgate over young lead Taron Egerton, who is set to star in both Kingsman 2 and Robin Hood: Origins.

For months now, the start date for the two movies has been in negotiations, because both want to start in the first half of 2016 but that can’t happen if they both want Egerton to star. The breakout actor, who has yet to turn 26, impressed many with his turn as a streetwise punk who gets recruited into the world of suave global espionage, including Lionsgate who were eager to cast him in their story of pre-Sherwood Robin of Locksley. They initially wanted to begin shooting in February, but Vaughn was keen for Kingsman 2 to start in April. With neither side ready to budge, Vaughn flexed his contract-option muscles and assured that his movie, with Egerton, will be starting on the date in question. Lionsgate could have recast but has instead raised the white flag and is holding their shoot until end of summer 2016.

Kingsman: The Secret Service, which was based on a graphic novel written by Mark Millar, was one of the standout films of the year so far, and surprised many, myself included, given its February release date and unproven young lead. In the subsequent months, it’s become a favorite of action movie fans and surely Vaughn and company want to strike whilst the iron is hot. And it just proves the faith both parties have in Egerton that Lionsgate is willing to push its start date for nearly 6 months to allow another project to use him. Like his character in Kingsman, we look forward to Egerton’s career with great interest.

Are you excited for a second Kingsman? Can you wait for Robin Hood: Origins (cuz you’ll have to)? Let us know in the comments below!

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HT: The Hollywood Reporter
Image: 20th Century Fox/MARV Films

Kyle Anderson is the Weekend Editor and a film and TV critic for Nerdist.com. Follow him on Twitter!