The King’s Man Director Admits Obsession with Rasputin For Wrong Reasons

The King’s Man is in theaters December 22nd, and there’s one scene involving The Amazing Spider-Man’s Rhys Ifans  as Rasputin that is legendary. At The King’s Man virtual press junket, Director Matthew Vaughn said he’s “always been obsessed with Rasputin for all the wrong reasons, but I found him fascinating.”

Vaughn has rewritten the franchise and gone back in time a bit to World War I to set the prequel of Kingsman and why it was founded. He loved the idea of an epic historical adventure film, with great actors, great characters, humor, pathos, and, just pure escapism and entertainment. Basically everything rolled into one film. 

However, when you watch The King’s Man, people will talking about several scenes, but there’s that ONE scene. You’ll know it when you see it, and it features that fascinating Rasputin. 

Rasputin will perhaps be your favorite villain. He has a fight scene that Gemma Arterton (Polly) describes as a very uniquely British thing of zaniness. And zany it is. But full of action and finesse.

In preparing for the role Ifans was an “action virgin” and had to train for the physicality of the role. Vaughn came in the stunt room one day and announced that he wanted a mixture of Russian dancing and martial arts to match with Rasputin’s hypnotic presence. The cast agreed that you never know where Matthew is going to take you.

The end result in this almost foreplay-like section was extremely satisfying for Ifans. He said, “it really was a whole group effort.”

Vaughn even admits there were a few Rasputin scenes he had written that Ralph Fiennes told him he had gone too far. 

You’ll have to watch The King’s Man in theaters now to see this scene, because it’s indescribable and full on insanity! You, too, may become obsessed with Rasputin for all the wrong reasons.