While the record-breaking box office run of 20th Century Fox’sDeadpoolmade headlines all year long, some fans may have thought it to be a fluke or an anomaly, which likely wouldn’t be repeated again. Those fans would be wrong, it turns out, with 20th Century Fox’sLogan’s impressive $88.4 million take proving that there is an appetite forR-ratedsuperhero fare, and it seems that one rival studio is paying close attention. A new report surfaced today which claims that Warner Bros. is interested in crafting an R-rated superhero movie to fit within their DCEU universe.
This report comes fromThe Wrapwho reached out to an unspecified source at the Warner Bros.' based DC Films. Given the success ofLoganandDeadpool, the source was asked if DC Films would ever consider making an R-ratedDCEU movie. Here’s the source’s succinct statement below, although no specific examples were given regarding potential R-rated DCEU movies.
“One hundred percent yes. With the right character(s).”
That’s not entirely surprising, since a report surfaced last April, just a few months afterDeadpoolhit theaters, that Warner Bros. was considering makingSuicide Squad 2an R-rated movie. Then again, that was months before that project was put on the back-burner forGotham City Sirens, whichSuicide SquaddirectorDavid Ayerwill take the helm on, reuniting with starMargot Robbieas Harley Quinn. The quirky and unpredictable nature of Harley Quinn, as we saw inSuicide Squad, could be well-suited to an R-rated story, and all ofDavid Ayer’s previous directorial efforts have been R-rated, withSuicide Squadthe lone exception, so don’t be surprised ifGotham City Sirensbecomes an R-rated movie. Warner Bros. did release an R-rated cut ofBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justiceon home video. There were rumors that the studio would re-release the R-rated cut in theaters, but it never happened.
The Wrap’s report also cites a Fandango survey taken the week beforeLogan’s release, which revealed that 71% of moviegoers want moreR-rated superhero movieslikeDeadpoolandLogan, while another 86% were excited to see a, “more violent R-ratedX-Men” movie. 20th Century Fox is getting ready to start shooting their R-rated sequelDeadpool 2this summer, but it hasn’t been confirmed if any of the studio’s other movies in development, such as the spin-offsThe New Mutants,X-ForceandGambitwill also be R-rated. While an R-rated version ofThe New Mutantsseems unlikely, given that the story centers on much younger characters, it’s completely possible thatGambitandX-Forcewill be R-rated.
As for Warner Bros., their upcoming slate includesAquaman, which starts filming this summer,The Flash,Justice League 2,Shazam!,CyborgandGreen Lantern Corps. Since these projects are still in various stages of development, it’s possible that Warner Bros. and DC Films could start crafting some of theseDCEUprojects for an R-rating, or they could wait until the next slate of films is announced besides the current DCEU crop. Still, for fans hoping to see more R-rated superhero movies, your wish may be granted sooner rather than later.
