Star Wars boss hints at potential R-rated film in franchise

Star Wars could follow in the footsteps of Deadpool and Wolverine with an R-rated outing (Picture: Disney/Lucasfilm)

Star Wars chief David Filoni has said he won’t rule out an R-rated movie for the iconic sci-fi franchise.

The executive, who serves as Lucasfilm’s chief creative officer, has addressed the possibility of taking the space saga to a more adult level after Marvel and Disney made the surprising decision to approve Deadpool and Wolverine as an R-rated film.

And this is a decision that producer and star Ryan Reynolds has had a lot of fun with for the marketing, even referencing similar in the upcoming film’s trailer, which also welcomes back Hugh Jackman to the mutant role that launched his career.

An R rating, which stands for ‘restricted’, would of course mean that Star Wars could end up far removed from the family-friendly franchise it’s been so far, with greater violence, sex and even swearing – just like Deadpool enjoys.

Asked if the same could happen for Star Wars, Filoni responded: ‘Sure, I mean, I don’t know.

‘I think it’s interesting. The bottom line is whatever we do, it has to be really well done.’

There is of course a balance to strike for the long running franchise, which was created by George Lucas and first launched with Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977.

The franchise began in 1977 with Star Wars: A New Hope, later adjusted to include ‘Episode IV’ as it expanded (Picture: Fox/Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock)

It was originally aimed at 12-year-olds, according to creator George Lucas (pictured on set with Anthony Daniels as C-3PO)(Picture: Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)

Recent spin-off shows like Andor have taken the storytelling in a different direction, but at the root of Star Wars is a need to fuel ‘the imagination kids out there’, the director, producer and screenwriter pointed out.

Filoni explained on the Happy Sad Confused podcast: ‘I think when you look at something that is taken as different like Andor, it’s so well done, and Tony [Gilroy, showrunner] and his team do such a phenomenal job, that I think that there’s an audience for that.

‘I think also with that audience, I also though want to still be hitting the imagination of the kids out there, so that they can grow up and appreciate those things.’

That is of course how Star Wars was originally intended by Lucas, as a film for ’12-year-old kids’ going through puberty during the unsettled period of the Vietnam War.

An R rating would see them dropped as the target audience as the American rating, which is very roughly equivalent to a 15, would see anyone under 17 need an accompanying adult with them.

Ahsoka creator and showrunner Filoni acknowledged that of course your ‘taste changes as you get older’ from what you might like both a movie fan and Star Wars fan.

Lucasfilm chief creative officer Dave Filoni acknowledged quality was key and that previous Star Wars creatives had put their own stamp on the franchise (Picture: David Livingston/WireImage)

With the huge expansion of the Star Wars franchise under Disney, he also acknowledged that in recent years it’s crossed over into ‘all types of styles’, with storytelling at its root as each filmmaker or showrunner is given the chance to put their own stamp on their projects.

He added: ‘It encompasses all types of styles, and the creative of the particular story driving it is the most important thing, and they should do something that’s within their comfort zone. Otherwise, we’re to imagine that everyone’s going to come in and pretend they’re George Lucas.’

However, despite any differences, there are some ‘principles’ that always ring true in a Star Wars story.

‘There are principles about choices and being a good person and being more selfless and getting over your fears, and those are timeless no matter what style you’re talking about,’ the creative executive shared.

Upcoming films in the Star Wars saga include Daisy Ridley returning to her role as Rey from the sequel trilogy, alongside two more, which were teased as ‘already pretty far along’ in April 2023 at the Star Wars Celebration event in London.

Lucas, with wife Mellody Hobson, was given an honorary Palme D’Or at Cannes Film Festival in May, where he opened up about his original inspiration (Picture: Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)

Filoni will be directing one of a planned three movies, with Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy directing Ridley’s and James Mangold helming the other.

In May, Lucas had an honorary Palme d’Or bestowed upon him by Cannes Film Festival to recognise and celebrate his achievements in cinema.

As well as wryly acknowledging that he doesn’t ‘make the type of movies that win awards’, the 80-year-old filmmaker recalled his initial mission with Star Wars during a talk at the festival.

‘I said, I want to make something – because [previous film] American Graffiti was so powerful for kids – I want to make another kids’ movie for 12-year-olds that are going through puberty that don’t know what they’re doing, why they’re here, asking all the questions about what should I be worried about, what should I think about, what’s important?’

‘Star Wars has all those things in there. They’re buried in there, but you definitely get it, especially if you’re young,’ he insisted.

Deadpool & Wolverine is released in UK cinemas on Thursday July 25.

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