Kingsman 2: Forget THAT sex scene - there was nearly ANOTHER controversial moment
KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE has turned heads with a jaw-dropping sex scene - and it was originally set to also have jokes taking aim at Donald Trump.
Kingsman 2 almost took aim at Donald Trump
Matthew Vaughan, the man behind the action sequel, has explained that the gags were scrapped - because he had an instinct that Trump would win the US election.
The script was being developed long before POTUS took office, but Vaughan said fears over his success were what caused him to make changes.
Julianne Moore’s character Poppy initially had a line in which she said she wanted to be the host of The Apprentice, while an Oval Office set was set to mock Trump.
“We actually took out the Apprentice line because we felt it was too close to the bone,” Vaughan told Entertainment Weekly.
Trump gags were ultimately scrapped
Julianne Moore's Poppy was given a line about The Apprentice
We felt it was too close to the bone
“I think America’s going through a pretty interesting and rough ride at the moment and I wanted this movie to be escapism.
“And that means not suddenly have half the audience going, ‘That’s not cool, that’s not funny!’ as the other half is cheering.”
He added: “We were building a White House Oval Office in the style of Trump Tower. We were making it in all gold and blinging it up. This was in May of 2016 and then I had an inkling.
“I remember saying to my American production designer, ‘Trump might win, you know? Would this be as funny if Trump won?’ And he was like, ‘Trump will never win.’ And I said, ‘You know what, I have a weird feeling he might. So let’s build a normal Oval Office and scrap the Trump version.’
Kingsman is back in cinemas now
Trailer: Kingsman - The Golden Circle with Colin Firth
“I think my instinct was right. If you go too far — if movies get political when they’re meant to be fun — then it weighs everything down a bit too much.”
Vaughan’s decision-making seems to have paid off: despite lukewarm reviews, the movie sits atop the US box office after its opening weekend.
That sex scene, however, has turned many heads.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle is out now.