Summary
- Ryan Reynolds believes Star Wars should have R-rated content for a darker, grittier story.
- Disney won't risk alienating the audience with R-rated Star Wars projects.
- Star Wars thrives on high-quality storytelling without needing an R-rating.
Star Wars is one of the most iconic franchises in Hollywood history, and it's also one of the most financially successful. One reason for that is that audiences understand what they're getting themselves into when watching a Star Wars movie or television show in terms of the tone and atmosphere.
It's a science fiction soap opera that appeals to people of all ages, but even though that's been the case throughout Star Wars history, that doesn't mean it always has to be the case. The idea of Star Wars having a rated-R film or show was recently floated, but that might be a step too far for this world.
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Ryan Reynolds Believes Star Wars Should Have R-Rated Content
The Deadpool Actor Even Pitched An Idea To Disney
A more serious R-rated Star Wars project is something that people could be interested in because it would take the story to a different level that the current shows and movies are unable to do because of the age restrictions placed upon them. However, if that was lifted, there would be the opportunity to tell a grittier and darker story, and Deadpool & Wolverine proved that success could be found doing that in a franchise primarily geared away from that. Ryan Reynolds' first movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe made over $1 billion despite being geared toward a more adult audience. That's why he believes that Star Wars should follow suit, going as far as to pitch an idea to Disney to do precisely that.
Reynolds didn't want to use the A+ characters within the franchise but pointed out that there are plenty of others who would suit an R-rated Star Wars project. He explained to The Box Office podcast that R-rated content is a "Trojan horse for emotion. I always wonder why studios don't want to just gamble on something like that." It's a gamble to take a franchise such as Star Wars in a more serious direction, and that's ultimately why it hasn't happened at this point in time.
Star Wars Is The Wrong Franchise For R-Rated Movies And Television Shows
Disney Doesn't Want To Risk Alienating The Star Wars Audience
While Disney took a gamble on a Marvel project being R-rated with Deadpool & Wolverine, but it appears they will not follow the same steps with Star Wars. The science fiction franchise isn't the right one to make R-rated, even if it would be an interesting tweak that could make a lot of money at the box office. The risk would be alienating the audience built up over several decades, which has been established to be accessible to people of all ages. Even though some of the more political moments might be too complex for younger viewers, it's ultimately a tale of good vs. Evil, which will always be a simple story to follow along with. People don't need to see brutally violent lightsaber battles because the duels themselves are enjoyable and dramatic enough on their own without adding blood and gore. At the same time, there's no need for swearing either, as it's something that just doesn't suit a franchise filled with alien creatures speaking in different languages.
Andor Proved All Star Wars Needs Is High-Quality Storytelling
Modern Star Wars Projects Have Thrived When They're Good Quality
The Star Wars franchise, on the whole, is something that might appeal to a wide age range, but there have been specific projects that have been focused on key demographics. While a show like Skeleton Crew was obviously trying to attract a younger audience, others such as Andor, are focused on trying to be more serious, looking to capture the attention of adults. The Disney Plus series was well-received from the moment it was released, both critically and with fans. The main reason for that is that it's a brilliant story that is gripping and keeps people coming back for more with each episode. Andor isn't afraid of making big decisions that have the potential to shock people, but it didn't need to be rated R to achieve that. It proves that Star Wars still has a lot to offer the world of entertainment, but that's down to the overall quality of the story itself, not the rating and restrictions that are placed upon them.
While not every modern-day Star Wars project has ended up being a hit with audiences, those that have been are mature. They're well-written, beautifully shot, and brilliantly acted. Whether it's Andor, The Mandalorian, or Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, all of these projects have ended up being hugely successful, all without being R-rated. People were able to sink their teeth into detailed and serious plots that touched on major emotions, proving that it's all about good quality storytelling above anything else. While being R-rated would open things up, the world of Star Wars isn't the right choice to be pushed in that direction.