Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Kingsman: The Golden Circle is a 2017 spy action comedy film directed by Matthew Vaughn and written by Jane Goldman and Vaughn. Based on the Millarworld comic book series The Secret Service (later retitled Kingsman) by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons, in-turn based on a concept by Millar and Vaughn, the film is the sequel to Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) and the second installment in the Kingsman film series. The film features an ensemble cast consisting of Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, Sophie Cookson, Edward Holcroft, and Hanna Alström, who reprise their roles from the first film, with Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, Pedro Pascal, Elton John, Channing Tatum, and Jeff Bridges joining the cast. The film follows members of Kingsman needing to team up with their American counterpart, Statesman, after the Kingsman organization is crippled and the world is held hostage by Poppy Adams and her drug cartel, "The Golden Circle." Kingsman: The Golden Circle premiered in London on 18 September 2017. It was theatrically released in the United Kingdom on 20 September 2017 and in the United States on 22 September 2017 by 20th Century Fox. It grossed $410 million worldwide against a budget of $104 million and received mixed reviews from critics. A prequel, The King's Man, was released on 22 December 2021, while a crossover film, Argylle, was released on 1 February 2024, with a direct sequel, Kingsman: The Blue Blood, in development.
(grunting) Whoo. I feel like a tornado in a trailer park. CHOIR: ♪ Golden Circle proudly presents ♪ Mr. President, my name is Poppy Adams. I believe the UN has no teeth. So I've selected you, as leader of the free world, to receive this communication. And I invite you to begin negotiations... on the largest scale hostage situation in history. A few weeks ago, an engineered virus was released... contained in all varieties of my product. Cannabis, cocaine, heroin, opium, ecstasy... ...and crystal meth. Some of you are already infected. And this is what you can expect in the coming days. After a brief incubation period... victims present with stage one symptoms. (snaps fingers) A blue rash. Next... second stage symptoms appear. (snaps fingers) Mania... as the virus enters the brain. (whispers) Very distressing to the victim and those around them.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
(gasping) Paralysis. Muscles enter a state of catastrophic seizure. And once the muscles of the thorax become affected... breathing becomes impossible... leading to a very nasty death within 12 hours. But I have good news to the millions already affected. It doesn't have to be this way. I have an antidote. (snaps fingers) What have you done to me, you fucking bitch?
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
(sighs) 100% effective... and ready to ship out worldwide at a moment's notice. Get out of my room! You have my word. Get out! I will do this... if the following conditions are met. Get out of my fucking room! First, you agree to end the war on drugs, once and for all. All classes of substance are legalized... paving the way to a new marketplace in which sales are regulated and taxed... as per alcohol. And second, my colleagues and I receive full legal immunity. Meet my terms... and I look forward to helping you keep our beloved country great... boosting our ailing economy, and easing spending on law enforcement. Or continue this blinkered, outmoded... and, frankly, disastrous exercise in prohibition... and live with blood on your hands. Save lives. Legalize.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
REPORTER: Who is Poppy Adams? After graduating Harvard Business School... Adams was briefly held for serious mental health issues... before disappearing without a trace. Intelligent, ambitious, ruthless, lacks empathy, superficial charm. All the elements of a great CEO. Or a psychopath. Following the broadcast of Adams's message to the president... there were scenes of chaos today... at medical centers across the country and around the world. DOCTOR: We have no more beds available. The hospital is at full capacity. The blue rash is now being renamed "The Dancing Disease"... as victims begin to exhibit stage two symptoms.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Let's prep the cryo unit. MERLIN: You want to freeze him? GINGER: Exactly. REPORTER: Victims of the virus caused by contaminated recreational drugs... flooded hospitals and clinics in fear for their lives. (clamoring) REPORTER 2: Curfews and no travel orders are being considered as authorities assess the scale of the disaster.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Prepare a presidential decree. Tell intelligence and law enforcement to stand down. We're gonna dance to this lady's tune. FOX: Good. We can make this work. We spin it that it's not a matter of negotiation with terrorists. No, what I'm proposing... is we appear to agree to her demands to prevent global panic... and then let the junkie scum go down in flames. Huh? (laughing) Huh? Yeah. Take Poppy Adams and her so-called Golden Circle down with them. No drug users, no drug trade. It's a win-win situation here. But, sir, we're not talking about a handful of hostages. We could be looking at the deaths of hundreds of millions worldwide. Hundreds of millions of criminals, burdens to society.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Am I right, McCoy? Absolutely, sir. But, sir, that's... What about people who were just experimenting? Folks who self-medicate? Functioning professionals? Kids? Oh, spare me the crap, Fox. (chuckles) The fact is, this presidency has just won the war on drugs. Congratulations, sir.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Now, we have to find that antidote. Poppy's stockpiles, well, they could be anywhere. HARRY: She must have some on hand. Locate Poppy... and obtain a sample for analysis. Maybe it can be replicated. GINGER: Sorry to cut in, guys. But Charlie is on the phone with his girlfriend. Looping you in now. CLARA: Don't worry. I'm on a payphone... covered in a fucking blue rash. Why didn't you tell me? All you said was, "Don't take any drugs." It was a music festival for fuck's sake. Fuck. Shit. Shit! Okay.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle