Back in the summer of 2010, writer Mark Millar (Kick-Ass) was, let’s say “optimistic” about the big screen adaptation of Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall being able to hit theaters by 2012. While it still won’t be hitting theaters this year, there has been some reported progress on the project.

While the original film was released by Lionsgate, Deadline reports that the franchise is essentially a free agent and Universal Pictures is now in talks to handle the sequel, with Jeff Wadlow (Cry Wolf, Never Back Down), who wrote the Kick-Ass 2 script for Matthew Vaughn. The cast members from the Vaughn directed original, Aaron Johnson, Chloe Moretz and Christopher Mintz-Plasse are said to be negotiating new deals to reprise their roles for the sequel.

Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall is in development.