Twentieth Century Fox seemed disinclined to make an R-rated Deadpool movie for years. When they finally greenlighted the project, it received rave reviews from film critics and became their highest-grossing X-Men Universe installment to date. Following the success of the February 12, 2016 release, the studio didn't hesitate to allow James Mangold and Hugh Jackman to shoot for a similar rating for Logan, the third Wolverine standalone movie. The March 3, 2017 release has also received critical acclaim and is working wonders at the box office.
These two projects demonstrate that, when the story demands it and the execution is flawless, R-rated superhero movies earn the same big bucks that the PG-13 projects do. While it's highly unlikely that Disney-owned Marvel Studios would still be interested in making a superhero movie for a more adult audience, all eyes are on Warner Bros. and DC Films. And according to Umberto Gonzalez of The Wrap, they’re ready to move forward.
The correspondent claimed that a studio insider told him that it may be just a matter of time until an R-rated DC Extended Universe installment is announced. When asked whether DC Films is considering making an R-rated superhero movie, the source responded:
One hundred percent yes. With the right character(s).
Among the numerous projects in the works at DC Films, a handful – Dark Universe, Lobo, Suicide Squad 2, Gotham City Sirens, Black Adam, and the Deadshot spin-off - can be deemed worthy of R-ratings. While we would love to see an R-rated Batman movie, it’s not likely that the studio would even entertain the thought.
