The notion of superhero movies becoming increasingly adult-oriented is being seen as the next big shift in the genre, with studios like Fox releasing R-rated superhero movies (DEADPOOL and LOGAN) to rousing success. Sony will follow suit with VENOM, and now eyes are on the MCU to see if any of their slate of heroes will drop a few f-bombs in the future.
Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige was recently asked by AlloCine about the prospect of seeing such an R-rated movie come out of their shared universe, and to that Feige answered it’s a tilting, if not immediately actionable, idea:
I don’t think it’s out of the question. When I started at Marvel seventeen years ago, the BLADE franchise was doing very well. A lot of people didn’t even know that it was based on a Marvel character because at the time they sort of hid the fact it was Marvel. So, not out of the question, but not something we’re working on right now.
Though Marvel movies are strictly PG-13 affair right now, the studio is no stranger to adult content. Their series of Netflix shows – like DAREDEVIL and JESSICA JONES – are suitably violent, sexual and foul-mouthed. However, as of now those characters are staying in their own realm, with no in-place plans to have the movies and shows crossover. Given the final part of the quote, it could be years before we see Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) ripping anyone apart or Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) calling someone an “asshat.” That also includes the upcoming VENOM movie from Sony, which will have no ties to the MCU despite Spider-Man being shared between the studios:
For now, there is no plan for Venom in the MCU. It’s a Sony Project.
I feel like I’m in the minority when I say I think Marvel needs to be the one studio that keeps their movies away from the world of “R.” The big reason is that the MCU obviously likes bringing characters together for any number of scenarios, and with an “R-rated” character that can get messy. What they have freedom to do in their own movie would be taken away when they join an AVENGERS ensemble, essentially being neutered in the process. The Netflix shows are the perfect sphere to handle more adult material, and I think it's there that sensibility should stay. Don’t mess with the formula, is what I'm saying.
The latest PG-13 MCU film, SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING, arrives July 7.