Summary
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige discusses the prospects of theMarvel Cinematic Universeproducing more R-rated releases afterDeadpool & Wolverine. Ryan Reynolds is finally joiningthe MCU timelinewithDeadpool & Wolverine, which is not only finishing off his trilogy, but also bringing him over from 20th Century Fox’s X-Men universe. This will also be the first time Marvel Studios tackles an R-rated movie, making it a new experience for the MCU.
In a new interview withDeadline, Feige was asked iftheDeadpool & Wolverinereleasemay mark a new beginning and get the MCU to get into"an edgier era"as the franchise goes forward. Kevin Feige responded by stating that while it was key to keep a mature rating forDeadpool & Wolverinedue to the ratings of the first two films, he thinks of the movie as “the most wholesome R-rated film that anybody can see”, delving into how his focus is on keeping a range of tones in the MCU, and howDeadpool & Wolverineis much more than just its mature rating:
I think we’ve been edgy in the past, but my favorite thing is that we span all types of genres and tones. I think it gets a lot of attention that this is our first R-rated movie, but it is the third R-rated Deadpool movie, so we wanted to stay true to what Ryan has built over those last couple of movies and we weren’t going to undo that. I will say — Hugh and Ryan have talked about this — and I think people can tell from the trailer and from the press tour so far, yes, it’s R-rated, yes there’s some language and blood, but the film is incredibly emotional. I keep calling it the most wholesome R-rated film that anybody can ever see. It really is a celebration of friendship and family and of found family. I don’t want to overdo it, but for all the R-rated raunchiness that gets attention, when people see the movie, it’s going to be about how heartfelt it is — in my opinion, much more than the first two Deadpool films. That’s what I’m really excited about, once people get past the ‘F’ words and the R-rating, to see how sweet it is.
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Why Deadpool & Wolverine’s R-Rated Approach Sounds Promising For Future MCU Releases
As fun as it is to see MCU characters cussing and doing things that couldn’t be seen in PG-rated releases, Feige’s comments about the concept make a lot of sense while also boding well for future projects. R-rated releases have often been more synonymous with violence and profanity than emotional significance and deeper storylines, and ensuring this more mature movie still has heart is not doubt crucial for the franchise as it goes forward.
If Marvel Studios is successful withDeadpool & Wolverine, it could open the door for future MCU projects that would benefit from having an R-rating but still maintain everything that Feige was emphasizing. Despite being in development hell for the time being, if Marvel Studios takes the same approach toBladeas they did withDeadpool & Wolverine, it could make the long wait worth it. Approaching mature storylines with the same focus on arcs and impact is sure to help the franchise and the specific installments in question at the same time.
Not shying away from R-rated releases could also build a better bridge for other projects that many fans have wanted to see, includingGhost Rider,Midnight Sons, and potentially even a newPunisherproject, since Frank Castle is coming back to the MCU in 2025. With the MCU’s TV shows having already found ways to get more mature over the last few years, it only makes sense for the films to start exploring this territory too. But for now, time will tell how the overall audience will respond toDeadpool & Wolverinenext week.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Cast
A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
