After the massive successful ofDeadpool, which is the highest-grossing installment of theX-Menfilms, there have been a couple superhero films jumping on the rated-R bandwagon. Disney’s Marvel division, however, won’t be following suit.
According to Los Angeles Times reporterDaniel Miller, Disney CEOBob Igerresponded to a shareholder comment aboutDeadpool:
We don’t have any plans to make R-rated Marvel movies.
Since debuting in theaters on February 12th,Deadpool’s worldwide box office total has surpassed $621 million.The Matrix Reloadedcurrently holds the record for highest-grossing R-rated film with more than $742 million, thoughDeadpoolalready bested its all-time domestic record of $281.6 million. In recent weeks, it’s been revealed thatHugh Jackman’s third Wolverine movie (second with directorJames Mangold) is planning for an R rating, and Warner Bros. has teasedan R-rated director’s cutofBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
The darkest Disney’s Marvel universe has ever gotten has been with its NetflixDefendersseriesDaredevil,Jessica Jones, and (by the looks of it)Daredevilseason 2. It is interesting that Iger promises no R-rated movies, considering thatthe rights to Blade, Ghost Rider, and Punisher reverted back to Disney’s Marvel Studios in 2013. Frank Castle has notably joined Netflix’sDaredevilby way ofJon Bernthal, but we still haven’t heard anything on the other two. ThoseNic Cage-led films weren’t R, butWesley Snipes’ film run as the vampiric vampire hunter was.
At least at this point in time, it looks like we won’t be seeing an R-ratedBladereboot. Then again, theArrowproducers promised to steer clear from the superhuman realm when the series started out and now look at them. We’ll see how strong Disney’s convictions are, even if it’s Disney we’re talking about here.
