While most superhero movies have had a PG-13 rating attached to them in recent years, we’ve seen the emergence of the “R” allow for certain characters to breathe. Granted, this isn’t exactly new because Blade and Watchmen did it long before Logan or Deadpool, but those formerly mentioned didn’t feature characters appealing to a wide variety of age groups.
With that, we’re waiting to learn how the MPAA will classify Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn). Seeing as how the Clown Princess of Crime had previously appeared in the PG-13 Suicide Squad, this could go either way, but we can’t be too sure of how many F-bombs were dropped during filming.
According to Vogue’s recent piece focusing on Margot Robbie though, the flick will be an “R-rated superhero action film.” Robbie herself, meanwhile, was quoted as saying the following:
“I think there’s a perception that a PG female-led action film is kind of considered a chick flick.”
Though I can see where she’s coming from, I don’t think anyone will associate this production with known chick flicks. If any popular DC character lends themselves well to the R-Rating, it’s most definitely Harley Quinn. Not only can her comics get raunchy, but the upcoming animated series spotlighting her is slated to get slapped with a “TV-MA” as well.
Aside from her involvement and the possibility of raw language as mentioned earlier, the film’s villain, Black Mask, has been documented as quite the sadist in the comic books. If Ewan McGregor’s big screen counterpart is at all similar, then don’t be surprised at all if he spills generous amounts of blood himself.
Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) opens in theaters on February 7th, 2020.
