( CNN ) -- Universal Pictures debuted new footage from the upcoming film `` Kick-Ass 2 '' during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con . The stylized , violent clip introduced fans to the sequel 's aesthetic and revealed several new characters , including Colonel Stars and Stripes , played by Jim Carrey . Although Carrey -- who has withdrawn his support for the film over the violence - was not on hand , Aaron Taylor-Johnson ( Kick-Ass ) , Christopher Mintz-Plasse ( Red Mist ) and director-screenwriter Jeff Wadlow spoke with the convention-goers . Chloe Grace Moretz , who plays fan favorite Hit-Girl , made a special appearance via satellite to discuss her character 's arc . The cast and director did n't reveal too much about the film 's actual plot , although it was clear from the footage that Hit-Girl 's path takes her to high school and deals with her issues following the death of her father ( played by Nicolas Cage ) in the first `` Kick-Ass '' film . `` That was a big , interesting arc that Jeff had the smart idea of putting in the movie , '' Moretz said . `` Hit-Girl decides to give up her life of crime . She goes to high school , and what she realizes is that whether it 's a drug dealer on the streets and a murder or a bad girl at school who is hating on these kids , she has to bring justice to the situation . She realizes she and Hit-Girl are the same person . It could also really touch young teenagers , because it 's what they 're going through in school . '' For Taylor-Johnson , the sequel was an opportunity to pick up where he left off with his character . The only major difference , he said , is that he has been doing a lot of one-armed push-ups to bulk up this time around . `` It felt like a natural progression , '' Taylor-Johnson said of the sequel . `` For my character , what 's nice is that he has n't changed at all since the first one . It 's always been a conversation about when are we going to do the second one . I got a call from ( producer ) Matthew Vaughn saying , ' I 've got someone really great who 's written a fantastic script and I 'd like you to read it and see what you think . ' And it was a page-turner . He took these characters through a wild journey that was really complex . It took these characters to a whole new level . '' Batman , Superman to team up . Mintz-Plasse 's character takes on a much bigger role as the villain in this new film . Shooting those scenes was intense for the actor , but he said he feels that the journey his character takes is important to the story laid out both in the graphic novel and the film . Red Mist , who lost his father as well in `` Kick-Ass , '' is reborn in this film as The Mother F -- -- r , which should give an indication of his qualities . `` I was really scared to do something this intense and nerve-wracking , but Jeff ( Wadlow ) had a great acting coach that came onboard , '' Mintz-Plasse said . `` We worked for a month prior to shooting and read every line and figured out what to do for the character . I 'm wearing a gimp outfit in this movie . It 's super dark . There 's some things in the comic book that we took out , which I think was a good choice . It was very intense to play . '' `` Kick-Ass 2 '' will be in theaters on August 16 , but fans are already wondering about a third film . The writers of the graphic novel , Mark Millar and John Romita , Jr. , have n't actually completed a third book yet , however , and Wadlow said he 's not ready to focus beyond this sequel yet . Bell : `` Veronica Mars '' could be my whole life . `` Also , '' Wadlow continued , `` this is not a rinse-and-repeat sequel where we have the characters just do the same thing again . We put them through a meat grinder . ''
`` Kick-Ass 2 '' cast and director do n't reveal too much about the film 's actual plot . Actors who portray Kick-Ass , Hit-Girl and Red Mist appear via satellite . Jim Carrey withdrew his support from the movie because of its extreme violence . `` This is not a rinse-and-repeat sequel , '' says director-screenwriter Jeff Wadlow .