Well, this was inevitable. As James Gunn predicted, studios are going to be emboldened to go R-rated for their superhero projects following the smash success of "Deadpool." And 20th Century Fox, the studio behind "Deadpool," evidently intends to take one of their most popular characters into grittier territory.
A promotional catalog handed out by the studio at Toy Fair 2016 in New York City revealed that its next untitled ‘Wolverine‘ movie, slated to be Hugh Jackman‘s last turn in the role, will be R-rated. But the larger question is whether or not the James Mangold directed movie needs to be R-rated. Such a move would allow the studio to make a more violent movie, and would very likely include a foul-mouthed cameo from the Deadpool character (the filmmakers attempted to get Wolverine in this weekend’s movie).
Consider this the first wave of R-rated superhero projects greenlit around Hollywood, but let’s hope executives heed James Gunn’s warning and ensure the material is right for the rating.
There’s no official word from Fox yet about this tiunr of events, but stay tuned. "The Untitled Wolverine Movie" opens on March 3, 2017. [Comic Book]