James Gunn, the star director of Guardians of the Galaxy, the live-action Scooby-Doo films, and several upcoming DC and Marvel projects is continuing his habit of being very responsive to fans on Twitter. His most recent post aims to settle the question that's been on several people's minds for a while now: will The Suicide Squad be violent enough to earn an R-Rating? Gunn has now apparently answered that question with a resounding "yes."
For a while now there hasn't been a lot of news on DC's upcoming film projects. As the execs in charge continue to plot a course forward for the expanded DC Cinematic Universe, there's been very little info given about upcoming projects like The Suicide Squad, and other films like The Batman beyond minor teases. One of the heavy rumors, however, was that James Gunn's The Suicide Squad would be a raunchy, bloody joyride to be kept away from the eyes of young children.
So when a fan on Twitter mused that they hoped the film would be rated R, Gunn himself jumped in to confirm that it was indeed the case. This backs up several statements from Gunn that the film would be quite bloody and filled with the dark, foul-mouthed comedy one might expect from the premise.
This also falls in line with Gunn's recent statements about the Peacemaker spin-off show, which is also currently in development. The director recently shot down a rumor of a CW release of the project, remarking that if he had to edit it for broadcast TV, the show would be "forty seconds long."
When a movie is heading towards its final release, the film is sent to the MPA in order to receive a rating that determines what audience the film is best suited for. While films can range from "G" for "General Audiences" all the way to "NC-17," which is adults only and incredibly rare, a rating of "R" requires anyone under 17 to have an adult with them while viewing, and is often viewed as a sign that the movie isn't going to hold back on the violence.
An R-Rating for a DC movie is notable, as it will be only the second DC Cinematic Universe project to receive the rating, following Birds of Prey. Though Joker was also R-Rated, it is not technically included in the DC Film universe, and was marketed more explicitly as a dark drama. Most superhero movies receive a rating of PG-13, making them suitable for teenagers and those with parental supervision. Perhaps DC is hoping to broaden the superhero market with a more explicit, violent franchise, leaning into the over the top violence inherent to comic book shenanigans. Audiences will just have to wait to see if James Gunn's vision for The Suicide Squad pans out in full when the film hits theaters.
The Suicide Squad will release August 6th, 2021.
Source: GamesRadar