Back in May, producerSimon Kinbergconfirmed that production was under way onLogan, the finalWolverinemovie starringHugh Jackman. And that the movie will be R-rated. Today,James Mangoldannounced on social media that the MPAA has awarded an R rating forLogan, while explaining why this particular rating was handed out. Here’s what the filmmaker had to say in a brief Twitter statement..
“Official: Please be advised thatLoganhas beenrated Rfor ‘strong brutal violence and language throughout, and for brief nudity.'”
The filmmaker wouldn’t offer more details about the rating onTwitter, including which cast members go nude in the film. The strong language was teased a few months ago whenJames Mangoldreleased a photo featuring the second page of theLoganscreenplay, containing a number of “f-bombs” and a scene where Logan is being beaten by a group known as the Bangers. That script page also revealed that Logan’s mutation has faded, and he is now in a “chronic state of pain,” which leads him to resort to using “booze as a painkiller.”
We first heard about a potential R-rating forWolverine 3back in February, just days after 20th Century Fox’s R-rated superhero adventureDeadpooldebuted to a record-breaking $132.4 million at the box office. That report also added more fuel to the speculative fire that this movie was an adaptation of the Old Man Logan comics, where Wolverine loses his mutant powers and starts to age, as he goes on a cross-country journey where he meets a number of Marvel heroes. Since many of the characters in that comic are controlled by Marvel Studios, such as Hawkeye, Hulk and Red Skull, this isn’t a direct adaptation of that comic. Although it’s clear that this movie will feature elements from that comic.
This rating announcement comes just days after the director explained why thisWolverinemovie is set in the year 2029, which is roughly five years after the prologue scene inX-Men: Days of Future Past. The filmmaker says he wants his story to take place past anything that was already been seen in theX-Menmovie universe, so he was clear of the “existing entanglements” of the franchise. While he didn’t mention the Marvel Cinematic Universe by name, he said that these big superhero franchises that take place right after the previous movie is essentially a television series with $200 million “episodes.” Over the weekend,Hugh Jackmanseemed to indicate thatLoganisn’t even set within theX-Menmovie universe, butJames Mangoldlater clarified that isn’t exactly what he meant.
The cast also includesBoyd Holbrookas the villainous Donald Pierce,Stephen Merchantas Caliban,Richard E. GrantasDr. Xander RiceandPatrick Stewartas an ailing Professor X, along withEriq La Sallein an unspecified role.James MangolddirectsLoganfrom a script byDavid James KellyandMichael Green.Logancould very well end up being one of this year’s first blockbusters, hitting theaters on March 3, going up against Lionsgate’sThe Shack, The Weinstein Company’sLeapand Open Road Films’Before I Fall. Take a look atJames Mangold’s tweet below revealing the official MPAA rating forLogan.
