Paramount goes with the R-rated version of Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

Last Updated on July 23, 2021

A couple of days ago, we reported on a story that Paramount was apparently screening two versions of HANSEL AND GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS – an R-rated one and a PG-13 rated one – to see which one goes over better with test audiences. Today, Collider has learned that the studio has indeed opted for the stronger, R-rated cut. Here’s the noteworthy excerpt:

“Despite IMDb speculation that the studio was testing a PG-13 version of the pic, we’re hearing that Paramount is 100% planning on releasing Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters as an R-rated film. The discrepancies between the cuts may have been a result of the studio trying to see if audiences prefer a more graphic version of the fairy tale over a tame cut. Whatever the case, it was clear that audiences (or at least those that took the time to post on the IMDb message boards) were heavily in favor of the “more R-rated” cut of the film.”

Yaay! While I wouldn’t instantly dismiss a PG-13 version in this particular instance, it’s always cool to get more bang (and blood) for your buck. The flick stars Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton (below) and is now set to hit theaters on January 11th, 2013.