Summary
Star Warsis 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 aStar Warsmovie 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 throughoutStar Warshistory, that doesn’t mean it always has to be the case. The idea ofStar Warshaving a rated-R film or show was recently floated, but that might be a step too far for this world.
Ryan Reynolds Believes Star Wars Should Have R-Rated Content
The Deadpool Actor Even Pitched An Idea To Disney
A more serious R-ratedStar Warsproject 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, andDeadpool & Wolverineproved 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 thatStar Warsshould follow suit, going as far as topitch an idea to Disneyto 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-ratedStar Warsproject.He explained toThe Box Officepodcast 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 takea franchise such asStar Warsin 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 withDeadpool & Wolverine,but it appears they will not follow the same steps withStar 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’tneed to see brutally violent lightsaber battlesbecause 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
TheStar Warsfranchise, 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 likeSkeleton Crewwas obviously trying to attract a younger audience,others such asAndor, 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.Andorisn’t afraid of making big decisionsthat have the potential to shock people, but it didn’t need to be rated R to achieve that. It proves thatStar Warsstill 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 everymodern-dayStar Warsprojecthas ended up being a hit with audiences, those that have been are mature. They’re well-written, beautifully shot, and brilliantly acted. Whether it’sAndor, The Mandalorian, orRogue 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 ofStar Warsisn’t the right choice to be pushed in that direction.
