Bad feeling about this: Luke Cage (2009) with R rating?
Luke Cage Movie in 2009: R-rated?
Movie promises to be “brutual enough for an R-rating” [source, io9 quoting Comic Book Movies quoting Marvel Source Avi Arad.
Whereupon lies the problem - an R rating has been seen as the signature death knell for a blockbuster movie. For example, the hideous editing done to DieHard4.0 in order to secure the coveted MA15 category. Or the Terminator 4 proposed PG to MA15 rating... or the ratings of Spiderman, Iron Man, Hulk, Punisher and Batman.
Don't get me wrong, I don't believe that comic book films are automagically destined for the MA to PG level of rating. I just don't feel comfortable that the first shot Luke Cage has at the silver screen will be in a smaller niche than was presented to the rest of the Marvel franchise. Like it or not, Cage's take will be judged against the PG-13 movies to determine "if audiences are ready for a black lead character in a comic book film".
In fact, only the third Punisher film looks close enough to the money to be R-rated. Wolverine was toned down to a PG13 from a possible R rating, and if there's one Canadian killing machine that would be well suited to non stop violence brutuality fest that's worthy of an R rating... it's Wolverine.
PG13 Wolverine versus R Rated Cage. Sales figures determine who lives for a sequel
