DC have no plans for R-Rated movies…

Some claim that the raging box office success of Deadpool has altered the superhero cinematic landscape. However, it seems the Merc with a Mouth’s far-reaching influence has been somewhat overestimated as Warner Bros. aren’t planning to move into R-rated territory in the near future.

Speaking with Collider (via Squareeyed) during a recent press junket for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, producer Charles Roven explained that Warner Bros. remains firm in its commitment to keep the DCEU a PG-13 environment.

He said: “I think that the DC Justice League characters, particularly because so many of them are so iconographic, have been around for so long and for so many generations that have grown up with them, and that are still growing up with them, I think we want to present them, when we finally present them, to the broadest possible audience that we can. I think that’s why we’ve planned on making these movies PG-13. I’m not seeing any real reason to change. We’ve made some pretty edgy films that are rated PG-13. You never want to say ‘never’ because we all evolve, but right now I think we’re staying that course.”

With DEADPOOL, @Marvel‘s superhero cinema flies into rare, R-rated territory. Will it stick? https://t.co/My4cX2kwIq pic.twitter.com/zIliA6AsE4

— Tribeca (@Tribeca) March 10, 2016

Roven’s point is that characters such as Batman and Superman have long histories that stretch back as far as WWII, making them universal and therefore unfitting of a graphic R-rating. Deadpool proved that there is certainly a profitable market for R-rated superheroes, but PG-13 is still the way forward for WB and the DC Extended Universe.

It’s also important to note that Roven said Warner Bros. may well change their minds further down the line but, for now, they are sticking with the more family-friendly PG-13. The PG-13 rated Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice arrives in cinemas this Friday.