Marvel Is Going R-Rated
Marvel is finally going to start making R-rated movies.
This article is more than 2 years old
Marvel Studios has managed to become the premier blockbuster factory over the last decade. With their gargantuan experiment finding great success, fans have wondered how long the studio can continue to keep all of their many film projects under the PG-13 rating. Well, if a new scoop is on the money, that is not going to be the case moving forward.
Mikey Sutton of Geekosity claims that things are moving forward to allow Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige to make R-rated Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. This is enormous news and one that has the opportunity to shake up the Marvel Cinematic Universe in significant ways. However, it is worth discussing exactly how that R-rating could be utilized moving forward.
We had already heard rumblings about Deadpool 3 being saved by Marvel and having it remain R-rated by allowing to operate under the 20th Century Studios banner. At the same time, the character would appear in a number of other Marvel Cinematic Universe projects but his behavior would stay within PG-13 guidelines. If this is true, perhaps the ability to create R-rated content under the 20th Century Studios name has emboldened Kevin Feige to consider what other characters might work best without the constraints of a PG-13 rating.
There was certainly some hesitancy from fans about the prospect of a new Blade film being brought into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A lot of that had to do with the character getting “nerfed” in order to fit within the PG-13 limitations of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The original Blade film – which does not get the credit it deserves for kicking off the Marvel film renaissance – was unapologetically R-rated and fans worried that this new version would not capture the same horror violence that the character was known for.
Perhaps that is one of the motivating factors for Kevin Feige maneuvering for certain Marvel Cinematic Universe movies to be R-rated. Blade and Deadpool 3 are movies that seem like they would be fatally crippled by a PG-13 rating. It’s also clear that audiences are more than happy to shell over money for R-rated comic movies when they know what they are in for. Just look at the astronomical success of DC’s Joker. It seems like Disney understands there is money to be made if they market certain superhero movies to a more adult crowd.
Now, don’t take this to mean that Spider-Man is suddenly going to be dropping copious f-bombs and Doctor Strange will be ripping out intestines. It is assumed that this rule will be applied to future characters making their way to the big screen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And Kevin Feige has shown a deft understanding of how to adapt these characters in ways that make them feel true to their iconic roots. If this scoop is correct, it is likely that this R-rating mentality will only apply to characters who are naturally suited to more R-rated fare. Squirrel Girl wouldn’t be getting an R-rating, but could Ghost Rider? That will be up to Kevin Feige and Disney to decide.
Honestly, this scoop should be true because the Marvel Cinematic Universe is going to have to bring in R-rated characters at some point. The endless array of characters that are available to Kevin Feige just can’t all fit into a PG-13 box. If they want to maintain their reputation for delivering the most authentic versions of these characters on the big screen, then certain properties are simply going to have to be R-rated. how big of a divide could this cause in the Marvel fandom? Or will audiences welcome the variety? Only time will tell.
