Deadpool 2 director David Leitch says a sequel doesn’t need to be Rated R

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Everyone knows that Marvel's DEADPOOL film series is by far the most foul-mouthed and bloody affair of the time-honored comic book brand, but what will happen to the Merc with a Mouth now that Disney holds his chimichanga in the palm of their hand? Well, according to DEADPOOL 2 director David Leitch, the next film in the franchise doesn't neccessarily have to sport an R-rating.

Recently while speaking with Yahoo! Movies UK, the FAST & FURIOUS PRESENTS: HOBBS & SHAW director confessed to the outlet:

“It's rated R so that's not necessarily the [MCU] brand but he doesn't necessarily need to be R and [Disney] don't necessarily need to only make PG-13 movies,” the director tells Yahoo Movies UK. “I think we'll find a happy ground.”

Oh boy. Batten down the hatches, folks, because a statement such as this is bound to light a fire under the asses of those who believe that Marvel's man in the red pajamas only works as a foul-mouthed murderer of epic proportions. And while we're at it, why don't we throw a little more salt on the wound? Really kick things up a notch, eh?

Leitch then continued by saying, “There's a lot of mystery still surrounding what they want to do with Deadpool in [Disney’s] Marvel world but I think, from discussions that I've heard, it's all positive,” he explains. “I think that they're just trying to figure a way in as Deadpool's hard.”

Okay, so Leitch definitely has a point. How exactly do you marry Deadpool with the Marvel brand as it exists today? Well, in the past, Disney has released a series of R-rated films via subsidiaries like Miramax, Dimension Films, and Touchstone Pictures, though that's not the way of the MCU. At the end of the day, it would be pretty weird to release a Deadpool film under a house other than Disney proper. Houston, we have a series of problems. Please, send help.

In talking about Deadpool, Leitch has said that he's game to return for a sequel, and thinks it would be "very cool" if Mahershala Ali's Blade were somehow involved.

“Superhero movies work because people want to escape, and they want to have fun, and they want their heroes larger than life and if there's a franchise that you can do it in, it's this,” Leitch told Yahoo. “So I think we embraced it in terms of a PG-13 movie that everyone can go see, where we can just dive into this world that's a little bit hyper real and have fun.”

Woof, where's a poop emoji when you really need it, amiright? I don't know, folks. I think that announcing a PG-13 sequel to DEADPOOL 2 would be a headache and a half, both for the studio as well as those of us who would have to write about the backlash. I mean, they've already released a PG-13 version of DEADPOOL 2 via ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL, but is there anyone on the planet that prefers that release over the original? Parents maybe? I don't know. I'd like to say that if anyone can figure it out it's Disney, but even I'm not that brave.

What do you think of the prospect of Deadpool going PG-13 for future installments of the franchise? Is seeing him quip alongside characters like Spider-Man and Captain Marvel worth a more teen-friendly rating? I feel like I already know your answer to that question, but it should be fun to see what you write in the comments section below. Enjoy!