Those hoping that Venom: Let There Be Carnage was going to up the violence may have reason to be disappointed. It has been officially revealed that the sequel to 2018’s Venom will indeed be rated PG-13. There was some hope that Sony might be willing to go R-rated this time around. That proved to not be the case. 

 

Venom 2 is currently slated to hit theaters this fall. Though it has been delayed a few times already. And, with the delta variant of the coronavirus still running rampant, there is fear it may be pushed to 2022. Some rumors have suggested the studio is already planning such a move. But, for now, the MPAA has handed down its rating to the movie, which will see Tom Hardy reprising his role as Eddie Brock, aka Venom. Woody Harrelson is on board to play the fan-favorite Marvel villain Carnage. 

 

Here is the MPAA’s official reasoning for the rating. 

 

“Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some strong language, disturbing material and suggestive references.”

 

So we are still going to get some intensity and violence along with the action. Just not on the same level as Deadpool, Logan or The Suicide Squad. But this isn’t surprising in many ways. Sony scored a truly unexpected hit with Venom 2018. The Marvel Comics adaptation earned more than $850 million worldwide. It managed to do so despite being largely trashed by critics. It’s hard to imagine the studio would risk alienating any potential moviegoers by going with an R rating. 

 

Here is the synopsis for Venom: Let There Be Carnage. 

 

“Tom Hardy returns to the big screen as the lethal protector Venom, one of MARVEL’s greatest and most complex characters. Directed by Andy Serkis, the film also stars Michelle Williams, Naomie Harris and Woody Harrelson, in the role of the villain Cletus Kasady/Carnage.” 

 

Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland) directed the first movie. Andy Serkis (Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle) is stipping in for the sequel. The cast also includes  Michelle Williams, Naomie Harris, Reid Scott and Stephen Graham. Tom Hardy and Kelly Marcel cooked up the story, with Marcel penning the screenplay. Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, Amy Pascal, Marcel, Hardy and Hutch Parker are on board as producers. Barry Waldman, Jonathan Cavendish and Fleischer serve as executive producers. 

 

Sony is currently developing several more spin-offs with the Spider-Man characters it holds the rights to Morbius is set to arrive next year, with Kraven the Hunter and Spider-Woman, among others, in development. 

 

Venom: Let There Be Carnage is currently set to hit theaters on October 15. 

 

What do you think? Are you okay with the PG-13 rating? Are you excited for the movie in general? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!