Fox’s Deadpool and Logan turning out to be box office successes might lead to other studios taking that lead instead of Marvel Studios’ safe PG-13 blueprint. TheWrap has word that the folks over at Warner Bros. might be interested in tackling R-rated material within their DC Comics release lineup.
With Marvel superhero movies like 20th Century Fox’s “Deadpool” and “Logan” setting the box office ablaze with R ratings, would the home of Batman and Superman ever make a rated-R movie?
DC’s Lobo sounds like a the perfect candidate as the violent alien bounty hunter is basically their version of Wade and Wolverine combied.
Warner Bros. had been developing a Lobo film for years with previous attached directors Guy Ritchie and Brad Peyton. It eventually was thrown into development hell and the original PG-13 script has seemingly been tossed-out. Former Womand Woman screenwritier Jason Fuchs is currently penning a new script for Lobo at the moment. So, WB is already developing a project perfect for an R-rating.
Actors such as Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Walking Dead, Watchmen, Batman v Superman) and Clancy Brown (Highlander, Starship Troopers, Shawshank Redemption, Sponge Bob, Superman) had originally been in the mix for role. This was back when Ritchie was attached to the film but I’m sure fans would support if the studio circled back to them.
That original script was primarly set on Earth which was bad idea to begin with since he’s an intergalactic bounty hunter it opens to the door for more interesting locations. Setting a solo film off-world could be a great way to explore the DC cosmic universe and making smaller budgeted R-rated Guardians of The Galaxy/Ravagers film is hard to consider here with Lobo.
Speaking of Ravagers, if they considered Yondu’s Michael Rooker for the role I’d support it a thousand percent. Although, depending on his Marvel contract and his future within the MCU it might be unlikely to see him take the Lobo part.
Hopefully, studios don’t go crazy slurging on budgets as both Deadpool and Logan were made for under $100 million. John Wick was made for $2o million and keeping budgets down seems to breed a little more creativity when it comes to action sequences.
We’ll have to wait to see if and when Warner Bros. decides to give one of their comic book films an R-rating.