Director Yann Demange has officially confirmed that Blade will be the MCU’s second R-rated movie, following in the footsteps of the original 1998 film, which also had an R rating due to “strong, pervasive vampire violence and gore, language, and brief sexuality,” just like we expected. Deadpool 3 will be the other R-rated film in the MCU.
In an interview with Deadline, Demange revealed that Marvel Studios approved the R rating for the film, emphasizing its importance. He also expressed his enthusiasm for collaborating with Mahershala Ali in the project.
“They gave me the R, which is so important,” Demange said. “I come out of this wanting to be more open, more vulnerable and bring a more personal aspect to my work. But for Blade, we are going to have fun because Mahershala is such a deep actor.”
“I’m excited to show a kind of ruthlessness, a roughness he has, that allows him to walk the earth in a particular way. I love him for that. He’s got a dignity and integrity, but there is a ferocity there that he usually keeps under the surface. I want to unleash that and put it on the screen.”
Blade Reboot Filled With Gore & Violence
The Blade franchise in Marvel Comics is known for its intense violence and gore, and fans would expect to see that level of brutality in a film adaptation. Additionally, this allows the director and writers to explore a darker and more mature tone for the story, giving them greater creative freedom.
Blade‘s R rating places it in a unique category. While Logan and the first Deadpool movies had R ratings, they were technically not part of the MCU when they came out. Up until now, the MCU had largely avoided strong violence in its films, although that has been gradually evolving. Marvel Studios has recently announced that Echo will be the MCU’s first TV-MA series.
Marvel’s Blade was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, which generated excitement among fans. Although the reboot was initially set for release this month, it has been postponed due to the writers’ strike.
Marvel’s Blade, starring Mahersha Ali, is expected to be released sometime in 2025.
