If the year was 2019 and you would ask me which films are working right now, I’d have told you horror films and superhero movies. But times have changed now. While horror has still maintained its position, post the pandemic superhero films are not the same anymore. There is almost a fatigue amongst the audience regarding the genre. The recent run of Marvel movies have been so disappointing that the entire superhero genre has been under question. Three back to back DC flops haven’t helped as well. There was a time when a superhero movie was the safest bet but now the market has changed drastically. The only superhero content the audience seems to accept is The Boys series, which is really criticizing superhero. Considering the generic superhero movies aren’t working, a new trend has started in the genre. To switch things up studios are experimenting with rated R superhero movies that have f-bombs and violence in abundance. Interestingly, R-rated superhero movies have a good track record. So, here are all upcoming R-rated superhero movies below:
Kraven the Hunter – October 6th, 2023
Kraven The Hunter is Sony’s latest addition to their Spider-Man Extended Universe or whatever they’re calling it, basically I’m referring to the universe where Tom Hardy’s Venom, Jared Leto’s Morbius and Dakota Johnson’s Madame Webb (upcoming) exist. Joining these anti-heroes is Aaron Taylor Johnson’s Kraven the Hunter. The Spider-Man villain is getting his solo outing and I couldn’t be more exciting as I love this character. I have to say Sony has also nailed the casting this time. Aaron Taylor Johnson is ideal for a character like Kraven. After Morbius’ failure, Sony made the right call by making this movie R-rated. Despite releasing just under a month from now, the film practically has no hype. I wish that changes.
Deadpool 3 – May 3rd, 2024
Deadpool 3 is probably the only Marvel movie that fans are excited about. The only reason fans have hope from Deadpool 3 is because Ryan Reynolds won’t let his favorite character down. Hugh Jackman’s return as the Wolverine is an added bonus. After acquiring Fox, Disney has realized the potential of Deadpool’s character and the massive IP it holds. Hence, to not ruin the character in any sense and repeat the box office success of the previous two Deadpool films, Disney has stepped out of its comfort zone and announced that Deadpool3, just like its predecessor will be rated R. Preservation of what worked for Fox, keeps fans hopes alive that Deadpool 3 will indeed be a solid threequel in the Deadpool franchise.
Joker 2: Folie à Deux – October 4th, 2024
Joker 2: Folie à Deux is once again written and directed by Todd Phillips but with a twist. It is not a generic sequel rather a curious one. Joker 2 is reportedly a musical and another peculiar detail about the sequel is that it might be told entirely from Harley Quinn’s perspective. Who plays Harley Quinn? Well, it is not Margot Robbie since it is an DC Elseworlds story. Lady Gaga has been tasked to bring this version of Harley Quinn to life. The first Joker remains the highest grossing R-rated film ever. So, of course the sequel will maintain its adult treatment. Phoenix never returns for a sequel so the fact that he has tells us how special this film is. Out of all the films in this list, Joker 2 has the most chance of being a financial and critical success.
El Muerto – TBD
Music superstar Bad Bunny was announced to be playing the title role in the sixth film in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, El Muerto, based off the obscure supporting character from the Spider-Man comics. No director or even a writer is attached at this point, but a release date had already been set for January 2024. Well, we know that is going to be delayed. The music star was seen in Bullet Train (2022) as an assassin and did a good job in portraying the dreaded role. Since, the announcement of the film no update has been offered to us. Given the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, I don’t think we will get the film anytime soon. Given the nature of the character and Bad Bunny’s filmography, the film could be potentially rated R.
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