Marvel has one self produced film under it’s belt and another one to hit theaters in June. They’ve also got a slew of films planned between now and 2011. None of them will have a higher MPAA rating than PG-13. Certainly this is a no brainer move to reach a large audience but does it represent the film’s source material, Marvel Comics?

Marvel executive Peter Cuneo spoke at length today regarding Marvel Studio and their future and stated their decision not to make any R-rated films.

He says, “We will not be doing an R-rated films in our studio.”

IESB.net

The Marvel Universe is a big one, and certainly the vast majority of it can fit into a PG-13 world. But some charters and stories deserve to be a R-rated film. The Punisher is a good example of that. Fans have disputed over which (if any) of The Punisher’s movies is best but we can all agree that no-one wants a watered down PG-13 Frank Castle. A PG-13 Blade wouldn’t be so hot either.  Fortunatly, Marvel Studios does not own the filming rights for those two characters. None of Marvel’s announced films would need an R-rated story either.

I supose as long as Marvel’s R-rated heroes are sold to other studios for filming it will all be fine. However this is going to break up the brilliance that Marvel Studios has right now, which is the formation of continuity in it’s films. Marvel Studios is developing something of a Marvel Movieverse in it’s films. Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Ant Man, Thor, Captain America, and The Avenger’s movie are all intended to come together as a connected chapters. So far the seeds have been laid with Nick Fury appearing in Iron Man and Tony Stark showing up in The Incredible Hulk.

But maybe one day Marvel will sell filming rights to an “R” character and end up missing out on making a really cool crossover film with that character.

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