This is a bit of a surprise. Matthew Vaughn cleared the boards back in January, including handing off Kick Ass 2 to Jeff Wadlow, so that he could concentrate on preparing to shoot X-Men: Days Of Future Past. However now word has dropped, via Deadline, that Vaughn has bowed out, although no reason has been given for why he’s left the director’s chair.

20th Century Fox is said to have Bryan Singer on the top of their short list to replace the director. Singer and Vaughn are both still attached to produce, alongside Lauren Shuler Donner and screenwriter Simon Kinberg. Singer stepping in to direct is apparently a very real possibility, although it much will depend on whether he has time to do it, as he has Jack The Giant Slayer due out next March, and the X-Men movie is due to shoot early January.

The Days of Future Past comic book story line takes place in an alternate future where mutants are hunted down by Sentinels. No concrete story details have been released for this sequel as of yet. Fox will try to move quickly to get a new director, as they won’t want to delay filming, having already ensured the entire cast have cleared their schedules for early next year.