Credit: Marvel Studios/Sony PicturesMarvel Studios is getting ready for a major shift, and it will set the tone for more than just a few street-level superheroes. As Phase Five readies itself for the next chapter of the MCU, things might be taking a darker direction. With entries from Deadpool, Daredevil, Blade, and more, it looks like Marvel is throwing caution to the wind and getting R-rated.
At the time of writing, Marvel is making waves with multiple mature and R-rated projects coming down the pipe. What began with Echo on Disney+ has led to a complete redirection into darker and more gritty territory for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The newer announcements, such as the Punisher’s involvement in Daredevil: Born Again, will give the superhero powerhouse a new image.
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After a season of flops, failures, and superhero fatigue, Marvel desperately needs a revamp. As big and bombastic as films like The Marvels (2023) and Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 (2023) were, it might finally be time to retire the cosmic Avengers-level threats to pull back and address more personal risks with emotional weight rather than the fate of the universe.
A More Mature Marvel Studios
Now that most of the Avengers have gone off to other adventures, other planets, or otherwise off the grid, many would agree that it’s past time for Marvel to shift its focus toward other characters here on Earth before jumping off across the Multiverse again. What better way to do that than by revisiting some of the earthbound or street-level superheroes?
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Characters like the X-Men, Daredevil, the Punisher, and so on might not deal with universe-ending threats on a daily basis like Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America might, but the stakes they risk and the perils they face are much more personable and relatable, and grounded in reality. That sense of emotional urgency and character-driven focus makes these entries stand out.
Even some of Marvel’s most successful collaborators have called the studio out for a lack of storytelling, which might have been the primary reason for this drastic change of direction. Along with the previously-mentioned entries, Marvel is leading a new era of R-rated films and series, and it’s already begun on Disney’s magical streaming service.
Echo
Echo, the follow-up to Disney+’s Hawkeye and part of Marvel’s Spotlight series, was the first Marvel TV series to receive a TV-MA rating. Along with exploring Maya Lopez’s story from her introductory outing, the series served as a character study that dove into her Native American culture and explored her time as the leader of the Tracksuit Mafia.
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While the cinematic entries in the MCU continue to explore threats beyond the Multiverse, series like Echo allow Marvel to explore alternative perspectives to unpack the profile behind antiheroes and antagonists like Maya and the Kingpin. While this isn’t the only series to do so, it lends the franchise a different flavor by treating the characters as more grounded individuals than what the comics can sometimes portray.
As Echo explored the story behind the story presented in Hawkeye, the series also paved the way for Marvel to explore other alternative storylines with more complex and grounded conflicts.
Daredevil: Born Again
Described as “Marvel’s first real R-rated test,” the continuation of the dark and grungy Netflix series promises to be a truly different flavor for Disney +
Felipe Rangel on Screenrant writes,
“Daredevil: Born Again premieres next year, and the series will be the first real R-rated test for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Charlie Cox excelled as Matt Murdock in the original Netflix Daredevil series, which is widely known for its approach to mature topics and violence, thanks to the TV equivalent of cinema’s R-rating.”
Daredevil has undergone more than a few changes since we last saw him in She-Hulk. Matt Murdock’s solo debut in the MCU is a big step for both the character and the series, officially recognizing the Netflix version’s contributions to his existence. However, it also brings in some incredibly sketchy material in the process.
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Not only did the original series have some crunchy fight sequences, but images of human trafficking, exploitation, and other such content aren’t exactly something most fans would expect from something on Disney+ (but that might change given the official Hulu merge). If the sequel series goes down the same path as the previous entry, it will come with the same aptitude for violence and graphic content. Viewer discretion will definitely be advised.
Marvel Zombies
The last time we saw Earth’s Mightiest Heroes taking on an infected legion of the undead was in Marvel’s What If…? series on Disney+. While that was a gruesome and graphic episode of the animated series, the mind boggles at what a live-action adaptation could get away with, especially when considering what Werewolf by Night got away with.
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What If…? director Bryan Andrews shared the following statement in a recent interview with Marvel, sharing just what fans can expect when the new Marvel Zombies miniseries drops.
“Well, it’s going to be pretty awesome. I mean, it’s TV-MA; it’s hardcore. People die. And they die rough. So, there’s still some laughs to be found here and there. It’s not completely all horrible…”
Andrews later went on to encourage fans to go in completely cold, supposedly to further build the shock factor that’s bound to occur when their favorite heroes join the legion of the undead. Hopefully, Scott Lang will be cut a little slack this go around.
Of course, Marvel isn’t stopping with mature-rated TV series in the near future. The cinematic element of the Marvel Cinematic Universe also gets a healthy serving of R-rated content scheduled on the studio’s calendar.
Deadpool and Wolverine (2024)
There’s no talking about an R-rated Marvel property without mentioning everyone’s favorite Merc with a Mouth. Along with bringing Hugh Jackman back as Wolverine, the third entry in Deadpool’s franchise ushers in a new, crude, lewd, and ridiculously violent entry under both Marvel and Disney’s banners. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that many Marvel novices will be in for one of the biggest shocks of the summer.
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Deadpool is notorious for being gratuitous in multiple categories; that’s what sells tickets. Even though he’s already broken down the R-rated superhero movie barrier for Marvel before, he’s going to come in like a wrecking ball now that he’s under Disney’s payroll (as referenced in the trailer).
Blade (2025)
Essentially, Deadpool is ripping the bandaid off by getting as much R-rated content into one film as possible before passing the torch to the next project. Although still in development, Blade has already promised to be a gory affair, as any vampire movie should be. However, can Yann Demange compete with the monstrous work of Guillermo Del Toro?
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In an interview with Deadline, the director shared his vision for the MCU’s variant of the half-breed vampire hunter.
“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.”
Those familiar with both the original movies and the comic books already know that Blade embodies the word “ferocity,” but seeing some new blood put in the franchise will still be an interesting twist. Pun totally intended.
What This Means for Fans
Like its ever-growing fanbase, Marvel is changing and evolving with its audience. There will always be a place for the ongoing battle of good versus evil on a grand and glorious cinematic scale. That’s what characters like Spider-Man, the Avengers, and the Guardians of the Galaxy are for. However, the universe is much bigger than just the standard-issue superhero fare.
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Audiences need the dark and gritty elements just as much as they need the bright and colorful contrast. For every Tony Stark or Steve Rogers fighting supervillains with grit, ingenuity, and Vibranium armor, there are characters like Matt Murdock, Blade, and Wilson Fisk who wrestle with a different brand of demon.
This doesn’t mean Marvel is going to stop making its traditional superhero stories, entities like the Spotlight project will make sure of that. However, it also means that Marvel Studios recognizes that their consumers have different tastes, and they have creators who want the ability to experiment and play with new ideas.
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R-rated superhero movies might have some individuals clutching their pearls, but it doesn’t mean that the genre isn’t safe anymore. Both Marvel and Disney still offer a wealth of content for all ages to enjoy, and that’s not going to change so long as there is an audience for them. As much attention as Deadpool’s explicit one-liners and Blade’s bloodlust might get, the old guard will always have a devoted legion of “True Believers.”
Do you think Marvel should go all the way with R-rated projects? Tell Inside the Magic why or why not in the comments below!