Shortly before Venom hit theaters, it was revealed that Sony's antihero-centric film would possess an R-rating, despite the fact that its central character was known for his monstrous brutality and despite the fact that other prominent comic book films had proven that an R-rated superhero adaptation could succeed. With the release of Warner Bros.' Joker, some of the minds behind Venom 2 have finally begun to rethink the sequel's rating goals.
Discussing how Joker's undeniable success impacted the development of Venom 2, producer Matt Tolmach stated, "I mean, I think you always have to think about [it], now that that works. Having said that, our movie worked really well." He then touched upon past R-rated superhero films, "I think what Joker does is it tells you that you can succeed. For a very long time, that was the narrative. And Deadpool sort of wrestled that to the turf, and then Logan, but for a long time, that was considered totally forbidden." He then concluded that R-rated films are being embraced by general audiences, allowing filmmakers the freedom to tell more unique stories.
Venom was released in theaters with a PG-13 rating, which meant the film was more lighthearted than expected and that even though the titular antihero brutalized his opponents as expected, most of it occurred off-screen. Surprisingly, the film teased the appearance of Carnage in the sequel, who is known in the comics as being far more deranged and violent than Venom. Some fans have already expressed doubts over the effectiveness of a toned-down Carnage.
Todd Phillips' Joker, a story about a nihilistic and tortured murderer, made no attempts to tone down any of its violent or emotionally uncomfortable scenes, something that several critics and audiences ultimately praised. The film has earned a worldwide total of $1.05 billion at the box office on a budget of approximately $70 million.
With Tolmach's remarks, moviegoers may be able to expect Venom 2 to move in that direction. Although, it would be wise to keep in mind that such a creative decision might eliminate any potential for a crossover featuring Venom and his classic nemesis, Spider-Man, something that purportedly encouraged Sony to aim for a PG-13 rating in the first place.
Venom 2 is scheduled for release on Oct. 2, 2020.
Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker stars Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Bill Camp, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Douglas Hodge, Marc Maron, Josh Pais and Shea Whigham. It will be available on digital HD on Dec. 17 and Blu-ray and DVD on Jan. 7.
(via CinemaBlend)