Marvel has been getting into darker and more mature territory, which will continue for its shows and movies. Blade Director Yann Demange confirmed that the upcoming film with Mahershala Ali will be rated R. This will be the second R-rated movie for the MCU, as it will slash into theaters after Deadpool 3 splashes audiences with blood and guts.
Blade Director Talks it Being Rated R and Mahershala Ali as the Lead
In an interview with Deadline, the filmmaker talked about Ali while quickly confirming the rating. He said, “They [Marvel Studios] gave me the R, which is so important,” as he plans the film to be a personal one for himself. He said that this will help him tell the story in his head and to “be more open, more vulnerable and bring a more personal aspect to my work.”
Of course, it is Marvel, so not everything will be doom and gloom with the personal touch, and having Blade be rated R. Demange noted how it will be “fun” because of his leading man. He praised Ali for being such a “deep actor.”
I’m excited to show a kind of ruthlessness, a roughness he has, that allows him to walk the earth in a particular way. I love him for that. He’s got a dignity and integrity, but there is a ferocity there that he usually keeps under the surface. I want to unleash that and put it on the screen.
Yann Demange talking to Deadline about Mahershala Ali
Related:
Marvel Reportedly Thinking on a Pivot Away From Johnathan Majors as the MCU’s Current Main VillainThe upcoming film has been through a tough road, and it has not reached production yet. It has swapped directors and writers, then found itself between two strikes with the WGA strike and ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. The shining light at the end of the vampire-filled tunnel is landing Demange to helm the project and a new script written by Michael Green (Logan). It will reportedly have more or less than $100 million budget, making it the studio’s lowest-budget film to date.
Blade getting confirmed to be rated R shows how the studio will be leaning into more mature projects in the future. While Ali and Ryan Reynolds will lead in the two confirmed R-rated movies, we have some TV-MA shows to look forward to. We will receive the first TV-MA series with Echo, which recently received a brutal first trailer. There isn’t confirmation this will be the case for Daredevil: Born Again, but it is highly possible due to Netflix’s successful run and the new team to write and direct it. We will also have Marvel Zombies, which is confirmed to be TV-MA.
Blade is currently slated for February 14, 2025.
