It may have taken five years, but one of the spy genre’s most infamous prequels is now officially a streaming success. After effectively killing the Kingsman franchise, The King’s Man is rising on the charts.
Released in 2021, Ralph Fiennes World War I-set prequel is tearing up HBO Max’s Top 10 list. According to FlixPatrol, The King’s Man is the platform’s No. 5 most-watched movie worldwide. It is currently only available on HBO Max in international territories. The United States only offers the film on Hulu and Disney+.
The King’s Man Ended the Kingsman Franchise
The King’s Man is partially responsible for the early demise of the Kingsman franchise. The film series started off remarkably strong with Kingsman: The Secret Service‘s release in 2014. Based on the Kingsman comics by Mark Millar, the first film was a rousing success, both critically and commercially.
Unfortunately, following the subpar reception to the 2017 sequel, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, an unfair amount of pressure was put on the 2021 prequel to succeed. The King’s Man failed to meet expectations, earning only $126 million against a $100 million budget. Critics were also very harsh on the film. This, combined with the disappointment of The Golden Circle, left Kingsman with little room to expand further. Now, five years later, there have been no new additions to the once-beloved franchise.
Will Kingsman Ever Return to the Big Screen?
Despite the franchise’s recent woes, Kingsman is slated to return–maybe. A third entry in the main franchise has been planned for some time, though it has been the victim of endless delays over the last several years. The sequel, tentatively titled Kingsman: The Blue Blood, would be the final installment of the trilogy, but is not currently a priority at 20th Century Studios. Everyone involved in the franchise still wants to return; it’s just a matter of convincing the studio to take the risk.
There have also been rumors of a sequel to The King’s Man entitled The Traitor King, which would depict Adolf Hitler’s rise to power ahead of World War II. Though the script is seemingly complete, the sequel to the Kingsman prequel has not been greenlit. A Statesman Disney+ spin-off is also reportedly in development, though its chances of ever coming to fruition seem slim.
The most bizarre potential addition to the franchise comes in the form of the 2024 Apple film Argylle, which ends with a surprise twist revealing that it takes place in the same universe as Kingsman. The film teases a potential crossover, though these plans seem unlikely following Argylle‘s underwhelming box office performance.
The King’s Man is available to stream on HBO Max in international territories.