Nicholas Cage is the latest to join the cast of “Kick-Ass,” Matthew Vaughn’s upcoming adaptation of Mark Millar’s violent comic book, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Aaron Johnson and Lyndsy Fonseca also boarded the project.

The story centers on a boring high school student (Johnson) who attempts to become a real-life superhero named Kick-Ass but runs into several troubles because of his poor physique. Cage stars as an ex-cop who struggles to bring down a local druglord.

Also on board is “Superbad” star Christopher Mintz-Plasse, who plays the aggressive son of a mobster who tries to uncover Kick-Ass’ identity.

Most of the major studios refused to develop the project because of the comic’s excessive violence, which is why Vaughn raised the budget for the flick himself.

Vaughn previously directed “Layer Cake” and “Stardust.” Cage most recently starred in “National Treasure: Book of Secrets.” He will next be seen in Oxide and Danny Pang’s action thriller “Bangkok Dangerous.”