With the success of Logan, both Deadpool installments and the recently released Joker, it seems as if R-rated comic book films may be on the rise, and James Gunn's The Suicide Squad might be the next to join the club.
"There’s a huge appetite for R-rated superhero movies and if Marvel isn’t going to step up, that presents an opening for DC to tap into that audience," Exhibitor Relations analyst Jeff Bock told Variety. The outlet also reported that insiders predict both The Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) will score R-ratings.
Though Marvel Studios has not made any R-rated films to date, Disney reportedly gave the go-ahead for R-rated sequels for Deadpool, which the company acquired through its purchase of 20th Century Fox.
Written and directed by James Gunn, The Suicide Squad stars Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, David Dastmalchian, John Cena, Joaquin Cosio, Nathan Fillion, Mayling Ng, Flula Borg, Sean Gunn, Juan Diego Botto, Storm Reid, Pete Davidson, Taika Waititi, Alice Braga, Steve Agee, Tinashe Kajese, Daniela Melchior, Peter Capaldi, Julio Ruiz, Jennifer Holland, Idris Elba and Michael Rooker. The film arrives in theaters Aug. 6, 2021.