A new report indicates the upcoming Black Widow solo film will be Marvel Studios and Disney’s first R-Rated film as they look to develop more mature content for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The report comes from Hollywood gossip site Crazy Days and Nights:
“If the experiment goes horribly wrong they have a woman to blame for it which is what this studio wanted. The A/A- list mostly movie actress all of you know has a franchise installment that is going to stretch the boundaries of who watches the movies.
Scarlett Johansson/Black Widow first R rating for Marvel movie”
While this is just a rumor, Disney boss Bob Iger was open to showcasing more adult content under the Marvel brand.
In a call with investors back in December, Iger addressed fears that Disney’s acquisition of Fox’s X-Men properties specifically Deadpool and [easyazon_link identifier=”B06XDRTLNY” locale=”US” tag=”boundingintocomics-20″]Logan[/easyazon_link] would no longer have the creative freedom to receive an R-Rating.
“It [Deadpool] clearly has been and will be Marvel branded. But we think there might be an opportunity for a Marvel-R brand for something like Deadpool. As long as we let the audiences know what’s coming, we think we can manage that fine.”
If Disney and Marvel Studios decide to model this potential new Marvel R-brand after Marvel Comics, we could see a Marvel MAX movie brand.
Marvel Comics’ MAX imprint was created in 2001 and was aimed at adult-only readers. The imprint featured a number of Marvel’s mainstays including Blade, Hellstorm, Shang-Chi, Thor, Wolverine, Deadpool, and the Punisher. Black Widow also featured in a short three issue Max series called [easyazon_link identifier=”B00B0PJSUC” locale=”US” tag=”boundingintocomics-20″]Black Widow: Pale Little Spider[/easyazon_link].
The Black Widow solo film will be directed by Cate Shortland with a script written by Jac Shaeffer, whose recent credits include the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels remake and The Hustle. Scarlett Johansson will reprise her role as Natasha Romanova.
The film is expected to take place before the original The Avengers film.
A rumor from last April indicated the film would feature Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes as The Winter Soldier.
Johansson did discuss what she wanted to see out of a Black Widow film while promoting Avengers: Infinity War.
“I love playing this character and I think there’s definitely an opportunity to explore the Widow as a woman who has kind of come into her own and is making independent and active choices for herself probably for once in her life. She hasn’t always had that possibility. If it fit that criteria then, yes, I would want to do it.”
Johansson reportedly negotiated a big payday to reprise her role as Black Widow. Her new contract will earn her $25 million. She was also negotiating for a producer’s credit on the Black Widow solo film.
Would you want to see a Black Widow R-rated film?