That couldn't be more evident in how he film is already coming together. From the original, highly praised script by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, to Miller's test footage, to how Fox greenlit the film and fast-tracked it immediately after the response to said test footage, to the costume itself and how the marketing has already begun, even in the earliest days of production. Today, Fox one-upped themselves yet again.
Deadpool is a lower budget superhero action movie and one that's coming out with a release date usually reserved for the types of films studios dump at the beginning of the year, outside of the traditionally lucrative summer and holiday seasons. Taking the budget into account, the release date, the script, etc. - all of these signs pointed towards the possibility that the film could be rated R. Some fans were vocal about that all along but Deadpool co-creator Rob Liefeld said it wasn't necessary (more on that below). Of course, a PG-13 rating equals larger audience, equals more money, equals more chimichangas.
Reynolds however, was still fighting for that R rating, even this week as production takes place in Vancouver:
“@DPklok051: Is it going to be rated R or PG-13?" I want #Deadpool to be R. Always have. Fighting the good fight still. Lotta yelling today.— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) March 30, 2015
So, this morning, when JoBlo reported that had exclusive knowledge that studio sources had confirmed that Deadpool would release with a PG-13 rating, we didn't believe it. It wasn't official after all. And of course, it's April 1st. But then JoBlo did something a little extra and updated their article with a response to the Deadpool rating announcement. Fox gave them the above video to share, seemingly setting up Reynolds to explain why the film is not coming out with an R-rating despite the original script being very much a hard R.
You know how it plays out from there...
"Deadpool will of course, be rated R."
- Wade Wilson
This video does everything right.
- It addresses, pokes fun at an distances itself to X-Men Origins: Wolverine where Ryan Reynolds first played a version of Wade Wilson.
- It features Reynolds in the actual movie Deadpool costume - as revealed for the first time last week.
- It takes a stab at the usual studio blockbuster trend of "keeping the spirit alive" while simultaneously stretching for the widest possible audience.
- And of course, Deadpool violently kills Mario Lopez and yes, absolutely makes a Saved By The Bell reference.
Ryan Reynolds is Wade Wilson. We said it six years ago. It's never been more true now.
February 12th. There will be blood. Guns. F-bombs. And graphic, expertly lit French Unicorn sex. #deadpoolRatedR @deadpoolmovie #Aprilpools— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) April 1, 2015
All props for the Deadpool rating go to the good people at Fox, who bravely decided that the fans deserved something different! THANK YOU!— Rhett Reese (@RhettReese) April 1, 2015
The April Fool's part of the joke was earlier today when Ryan tweeted that it was PG-13! The R RATING is REAL!!! DEADPOOL!!!— robertliefeld (@robertliefeld) April 1, 2015
Quite a reversal on Liefeld's part who last summer fought commenters on Deadpool being PG-13. Keep in mind, he obviously just wanted to get the movie made (and them royalties!).
Honestly, I'd rather set the table, fight the stigma now, get out on front.... DP comics are PG-13
— robertliefeld (@robertliefeld) July 30, 2014
The brilliant screenplay has been equally brilliantly modified.... R is not a blockade any longer.
— robertliefeld (@robertliefeld) July 30, 2014
All you who want to die on the R rated hill, we will replace you with equally enthusiastic teenagers. Deadpool can't be stopped.
— robertliefeld (@robertliefeld) July 30, 2014
Share your thoughts in the comments!
Note: The R-rating is not an April Fools joke. Fox leading fans to believe it's PG-13 was the prank!
_____________________________________________
Next: Official 'Deadpool' Synopsis Hints At 'X-Men' Connections
_____________________________________________
Deadpool is directed by Tim Miller off a screenplay by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. It stars Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, Gina Carano, TJ Miller and Brianna Hildebrand.
Fantastic Four opens August 7th, 2015, Deadpool on February 12, 2016, X-Men: Apocalypse on May 27, 2016, Gambit on October 7 2016, Wolverine 3 (not the official title) on March 3rd, 2017, Fantastic Four 2 on June 9th, 2017, and some as-yet unspecified X-Men film on July 13th, 2018.