Matthew Vaughn

Vaughn was born in Paddington, London, England.{{Cite web|url=https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=6wYvGFUBoI7vDCjuf1kjjA&scan=1|title=Index entry|accessdate=30 December 2021|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/news/vaughns-truth-about-son-matthew-6298911.html|title=Vaughn's truth about son Matthew|date=25 April 2002|website=Evening Standard|language=en|access-date=17 March 2019}} Until 2002, he had thought that he was the child of a relationship between his mother, a production manager and producer Kathy Ceaton (died 20 July 2013), daughter of electrical and property tycoon James Ceaton,{{Cite web |last=Hockney |first=Karen |date=2012-04-12 |title=Vaughn's truth about son Matthew |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/vaughns-truth-about-son-matthew-6298911.html |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=The Standard |language=en}} and a former wife of a Pakistani millionaire Javaid Saigol,{{Cite web |date=2013-07-27 |title=Ambulance blocked on way to Schiffer's mother-in-law |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/uk-news/ambulance-blocked-on-way-to-schiffers-mother-in-law-2465816 |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=The Scotsman |language=en}} and American actor Robert Vaughn.{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/matthew-vaughn-the-directors-cut-550697.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/matthew-vaughn-the-directors-cut-550697.html |archive-date=12 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Matthew Vaughn: The director's cut|date=3 October 2004|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=17 March 2019}} A paternity investigation in the 1980s revealed that Robert Vaughn was not his father, but Ceaton had never revealed otherwise to Vaughn. Upon asking his mother about his true paternity, she revealed that his father was George Albert Harley de Vere Drummond,{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/gossip/claudia-labor-day-article-1.672293|title=CLAUDIA GETS A 'C' ON HER LABOR DAY|website=New York Daily News }} an English banker, aristocrat and godson of King George VI. Early in Vaughn's life, before the paternity investigation, Robert Vaughn had asked for the child's surname to be Vaughn, and it continues as Vaughn's professional name, though he uses de Vere Drummond in his personal life, having changed it by deed poll in May 2002.{{London Gazette|issue=56586|page=6913|date=7 June 2002}}

Aged 25, Vaughn produced a low-budget thriller, The Innocent Sleep (1996), starring Annabella Sciorra and Michael Gambon.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2004/09/17/matthew_vaughn_layer_cake_interview.shtml "Movies – Interviews: Matthew Vaughn"], bbc.co.uk; retrieved 22 June 2012. He continued as a producer on close friend Guy Ritchie's film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. The film was a critical, popular and financial success, earning Vaughn and Ritchie £9 million each. Vaughn would later produce Ritchie's Snatch and Swept Away.

Vaughn made his directorial debut in 2004 with Layer Cake. The film was well received and its success led to Vaughn being tapped to direct X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), but he dropped out only two weeks before filming began. Subsequently, he said the film was "pretty good" given the limited time they had to make it,{{Cite web|url=http://www.metrofrance.com/fr/article/2007/10/23/16/5209-38/index.xml |title=Interview Matthew Vaughn |access-date=1 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101013633/http://www.metrofrance.com/fr/article/2007/10/23/16/5209-38/index.xml |archive-date=1 November 2007|url-status=live}} but he was critical of Brett Ratner's direction of the film.{{cite news |first=John |last=Hiscock |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/3668336/Matthew-Vaughn-The-Brit-whos-making-the-stars-shine.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/3668336/Matthew-Vaughn-The-Brit-whos-making-the-stars-shine.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Matthew Vaughn: The Brit who's making the stars shine |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=5 October 2007 |access-date=11 December 2010}}{{cbignore}} For his next project he co-wrote and directed Stardust, followed by a movie adaptation of Mark Millar's Kick-Ass in 2010. Vaughn directed and co-wrote the first film in the prequel trilogy of the X-Men film universe titled X-Men: First Class (2011).{{cite news|last=Fleming|first=Mike|title=Fox Signs Vaughn To Direct 'X-Men: First Class'|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=4 May 2010|url=https://deadline.com/2010/05/fox-seals-deal-for-matthew-vaughn-to-direct-x-men-first-class-38098/|access-date=9 July 2010}} Vaughn was signed to return to the series as director of the sequel, X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), but dropped out in favour of Bryan Singer who had directed the first two films in the original trilogy, X-Men and X2. Vaughn remained attached to the film by co-writing the script.{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jan/31/matthew-vaughn-x-men-first-class|location=London|work=The Guardian|first=Ben|last=Child|title=Matthew Vaughn to direct sequel to X-Men: First Class|date=31 January 2012}}

Vaughn's next directorial project, was Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), an adaptation of the comic book The Secret Service created by Millar and Dave Gibbons from a concept by Millar and an initially uncredited Vaughn himself (Vaughn being credited as the comic's co-creator on all republications since 2014).{{Cite web|last=Phegley|first=Kiel|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36345|title=Millarworld Exclusive: Inside "The Secret Service"|date=10 January 2012|access-date=12 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112025205/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36345|archive-date=12 January 2012|website=Comic Book Resources|url-status=dead|quote=Mark Millar: "This education of a 21st Century super-spy forms the structure of the story. I can't give too much away because Matthew Vaughn and I co-conceived the thing with Dave Gibbons, and Vaughn is literally right now writing the screenplay of the movie, so we're on a non-disclosure agreement for a little while yet. But basically, if I had to say anything else about it, I would say that this is our version of S.H.I.E.L.D. or U.N.C.L.E. or any of those brilliant super-spy concepts, but seen through that skewed perspective we brought to superheroes in {{'}}Kick-Ass.' It feels very, very fresh. I don't think there's ever been a comic like this and all three of us are very excited about it. I've wanted to work with Dave since I was sixteen [so] it had to be something big."}} The film was scripted by Vaughn and Jane Goldman, and produced by Vaughn's production company Marv Films.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2013/03/fox-wins-rights-to-matthew-vaughns-next-pic-the-secret-service-462599/|title=Update: Fox Wins Rights To Matthew Vaughn's Next Pic 'The Secret Service', Sets November 2014 Release Date|first= Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=27 March 2013|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=11 August 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/matthew-vaughn-eyes-newcomer-taron-egerton-for-secret-service-exclusive-1200568145|title=Matthew Vaughn Eyes Newcomer Taron Egerton for 'Secret Service' (EXCLUSIVE)|work=Variety|date=25 July 2013|access-date=21 January 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/who-will-team-up-with-colin-firth-in-matthew-vaughns-secret-service-1200502678|title=Who Will Team Up With Colin Firth in Matthew Vaughn's 'Secret Service'?|work=Variety |date=27 June 2013|access-date=21 January 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/samuel-l-jackson-matthew-vaughns-secret-service-1200569520|title=Samuel L. Jackson to Play Villain in Matthew Vaughn's 'Secret Service' (EXCLUSIVE)|work=Variety|date=2 August 2013 |access-date=21 January 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/sophie-cookson-secret-service-1200600080|title=Sophie Cookson Lands Female Lead in Matthew Vaughn's 'Secret Service' (EXCLUSIVE)|work=Variety|date=5 September 2013 |access-date=21 January 2015}}{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike|url=https://deadline.com/2013/10/matthew-vaughns-secret-service-gets-a-femme-fatale-in-sofia-boutella|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150228182758/http://deadline.com/2013/10/matthew-vaughns-secret-service-gets-a-femme-fatale-in-sofia-boutella|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 February 2015|title=Matthew Vaughn's 'The Secret Service' Gets A Femme Fatale in Sofia Boutella|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=21 January 2015}} Vaughn returned to direct, produce, and co-write the Kingsman sequel, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, which was released in theaters in September 2017. Vaughn also directed and provided the story for The King's Man, the third instalment in the franchise serving as a prequel to the original film. Delayed from November 2019 due to both the schedule shuffle following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox and the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic, the film was released on 22 December 2021.

In March 2017, Collider reported that Vaughn was top choice to direct Man of Steel 2;{{cite web|last=Chitwood|first=Adam|date=13 March 2017|url=https://collider.com/man-of-steel-2-director-matthew-vaughn/|title=Warner Bros. Eyeing Matthew Vaughn to Direct Man of Steel 2|publisher=Collider|access-date=9 October 2017}} in September of that year, Vaughn confirmed that he was in negotiations with the studio to helm the project.{{cite web|last=Lyus|first=Jon|date=15 September 2017|url=https://www.heyuguys.com/matthew-vaughn-superman-director/ |title=Matthew Vaughn Confirms Talks for the Next Superman Film|publisher=HeyUGuys|access-date=9 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210050212/https://www.heyuguys.com/matthew-vaughn-superman-director/ |archive-date=10 December 2019|url-status=dead}} By March 2019, Vaughn stated that discussions with Warner Bros. had ended, and he was no longer involved with development of the film.{{Cite web |last=Han |first=Karen |date=30 May 2019 |title=Rocketman producer Matthew Vaughn explains what his Man of Steel 2 may have looked like |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/5/30/18645982/superman-man-of-steel-2-matthew-vaughn-update |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530200638/https://www.polygon.com/2019/5/30/18645982/superman-man-of-steel-2-matthew-vaughn-update |archive-date=30 May 2019 |access-date=1 June 2019 |website=Polygon}}

Vaughn began working on spy film Argylle in 2021, an original story written by Jason Fuchs and starring an ensemble cast including Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, Bryan Cranston and John Cena.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/henry-cavill-sam-rockwell-dua-lipa-bryan-cranston-samuel-jackson-john-cena-bruce-dallas-howard-new-movie-argylle-1234788568/|title=Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Bryan Cranston, Dua Lipa, Samuel L. Jackson, John Cena, Catherine O'Hara Set For New Matthew Vaughn Spy Franchise 'Argylle'|date=8 July 2021|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709002625/https://deadline.com/2021/07/henry-cavill-sam-rockwell-dua-lipa-bryan-cranston-samuel-jackson-john-cena-bruce-dallas-howard-new-movie-argylle-1234788568/|archive-date=9 July 2021|url-status=live|access-date=14 December 2021}} The film premiered in January 2024, and was released by Universal Pictures and Apple Original Films.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/apple-200-million-dollar-film-deal-matthew-vaughn-argllye-henry-cavill-sam-rockwell-dua-lipa-samuel-jackson-1234808979/|title=Apple Lands Matthew Vaughn's Star-Studded Spy Film 'Argylle' In Massive Package Deal|date=4 August 2021|first1=Justin|last1=Kroll|first2=Mike|last2=Fleming Jr.|website=Deadline Hollywood|url-status=live|access-date=14 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804195444/https://deadline.com/2021/08/apple-200-million-dollar-film-deal-matthew-vaughn-argllye-henry-cavill-sam-rockwell-dua-lipa-samuel-jackson-1234808979/|archive-date=4 August 2021}}

In January 2024, Vaughn announced that he would be producing a third Kick-Ass film, titled Stuntnuts Does School Fight, directed by his longtime stunt coordinator Damien Walters in his feature film debut, which had secretly already been greenlit and had completed filming.{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/kick-ass-3-reboot|work=Collider|title='Kick-Ass' Reboot Will Be Part of a New Trilogy [Exclusive]|last=Massoto|first=Erick|date=January 24, 2024|access-date=January 24, 2024}} also announcing two further films in the Kick-Ass franchise to be in development, to be produced by him as a trilogy, under the working titles Vram and Kick-Ass.

In April 2025, Vaughn announced his involvement in a new film production studio, "UR•MARV", in collaboration with Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/cristiano-ronaldo-matthew-vaughn-film-studio-urmarv-1236365527/|work=Variety|title=Cristiano Ronaldo Teams With Director Matthew Vaughn for Film Studio Venture UR•Marv (EXCLUSIVE)|last=Ramachandran|first=Naman|date=April 9, 2025|access-date=April 9, 2025}}

On 25 May 2002, Vaughn married German supermodel Claudia Schiffer in Suffolk.{{cite web|url=http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2011/03/07/claudia-schiffer-unveils-her-debut-collection|title=Claudia Schiffer unveils her debut collection|work=Vogue|access-date=6 March 2012}} The couple have a son and two daughters, the youngest born in 2010.{{cite web |work=People |title=Claudia Schiffer Expecting Third Child |first=Sarah |last=Michaud |date=15 January 2010 |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20337223,00.html |access-date=5 August 2013 |archive-date=2 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202155752/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20337223,00.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities-news-in-pics/25-05-2010/54015/general/|title=Claudia Schiffer names new baby daughter|access-date=18 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606121639/http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities-news-in-pics/25-05-2010/54015/general/|archive-date=6 June 2011|url-status=dead}} They have resided at Coldham Hall, Stanningfield, Suffolk, since 2002, and also have homes in Notting Hill, London and Northamptonshire.{{cite web|url= http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/celebrity_couple_s_love_for_suffolk_1_66141| title= Celebrity couple's love for Suffolk|work=East Anglian Daily Times|access-date=17 March 2011}}

Vaughn has identified himself politically as a conservative and a supporter of the Conservative Party.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1331187/Film-producer-gives-credit-to-the-Tories.html|title=Film producer gives credit to the Tories|work=The Daily Telegraph|author= |date= May 22, 2001|access-date=March 17, 2025|quote=Matthew Vaughn, a film producer, was the surprise signatory to yesterday's letter to The Telegraph praising Tory policies for business and warning that a second Labour term would "pose a significant risk to Britain's future prosperity". [...] Friends say Mr Vaughn is a natural Conservative. He is a strong supporter of country sports, going shooting and fishing with [Guy Ritchie] and Vinnie Jones, the former footballer who has become an actor. He also values the freedom of the individual. One ally said: "He has a strong belief in ambition - he supports the Thatcherite dream that the individual can achieve anything regardless of background." }} According to a 2015 article by The Guardian, Vaughn has served on the committee of a Tory fundraising ball, and had been one of the 103 signatories of a letter sent to The Daily Telegraph, that backed David Cameron and George Osborne’s lowering of the corporation tax and criticised Ed Miliband's attempt to introduce a law banning zero-hour contracts.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2015/apr/01/tory-100-industry-captains-party-donors-tax-avoiders|title=The Tory 100: captains of industry, party donors (and a few tax avoiders)|work=The Guardian|author=|date= April 1, 2015|quote=Matthew Vaughn: Film producer, owner of Marv Films. Has served on the committee of Tory fundraising ball. Dined at Chequers with model Claudia Schiffer, according to a Press Association freedom of information request |access-date=March 22, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/01/donors-peers-tory-business-letter|title=Donors and peers among signatories of pro-Tory business letter|work=The Guardian|first1=Holly|last1=Watt|first2=Rowena|last2=Mason|first3=Haroon|last3=Siddique|first4=Jamie|last4=Grierson|first5=David|last5=Pegg|date=April 1, 2015|access-date= March 22, 2015}}{{cite web |last= Dominiczak |first=Peter |date= April 1, 2015|title=100 business chiefs: Labour threatens Britain's recovery |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11507586/General-Election-2015-Labour-threatens-Britains-recovery-say-100-business-chiefs.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=March 22, 2025}}

Vaughn was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the 2024 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours for services to the creative industries.{{cite web |date= April 11, 2025|title=Resignation Honours April 2025 |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67f905f16812c7adcf513f44/Resignation_Honours_List_2025.pdf |website= gov.uk |access-date=April 11, 2025}}

Producer only

• The Innocent Sleep (1996)
• Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
• Snatch (2000)
• Mean Machine (2001)
• Swept Away (2002)
• A Short Film About John Bolton (2003)
• Harry Brown (2009)
• Kick-Ass 2 (2013)
• Fantastic Four (2015)
• Eddie the Eagle (2016)
• Rocketman (2019)
• Bloodshot (2020) (Executive producer)
• Silent Night (2021)
• Tetris (2023)
• Stuntnuts: The Movie (TBA)
• Stuntnuts Does School Fight (TBA)

Executive producer

• Lock, Stock... (2000)
• Swag (2003)
• Make My Day (2003) (Documentary)

Producer

• Kick-Ass: The Game (2010)

;Actors and actresses

;Film crew

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{IMDb name|0891216}}
• [http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6109 Interview], Superherohype.com; accessed 28 February 2015

{{Matthew Vaughn}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vaughn, Matthew}}

Category:1971 births

Category:Action film directors

Category:Alumni of University College London

Category:English film directors

Category:English film producers

Category:English male screenwriters

Category:English screenwriters

Category:Hugo Award–winning writers

Category:Knights Bachelor

Category:Living people

Category:Mass media people from Bury St Edmunds

Category:People educated at Sussex House School

Category:People educated at Stowe School