Written By Mikey Sutton • Editor-in-Chief • Owner
Disney CEO Bob Iger won’t interfere with Marvel Studios’ plans for R-rated fare like Daredevil: Born Again. Officially, only Deadpool 3 will carry the R rating for now. However, when Iger was CEO before, he stated it wouldn’t end there. At least, theatrically.
During an earnings call in February 2019, Iger said:
that they plan on keeping Deadpool an R-Rated brand and plan to further include R-Rated film brands in their future product portfolio.
Nevertheless, Disney Plus is another matter. In fact, Iger didn’t wanted R-rated (or its TV equivalent, TV-MA) material on the streamer. Puck News explained that Iger preferred “to keep Disney+ family-friendly, while current Disney CEO Bob Chapek wanted to add more mature content to reach new audiences.”
Exclusive: Bob Iger Won’t Water Down R-Rated Daredevil: Born Again
Therefore, after Chapek became CEO, he added Disney Plus’ parental lock. Thus, Disney Plus added all of Netflix’ adult Marvel programming like Daredevil, The Punisher, and Jessica Jones. But now that Disney has let Bob Chapek go, will that option remain? After all, Iger has returned as CEO.
Insiders tell me that Disney Plus will not remove its parental lock. In other words, they won’t dismantle it and flip those shows to sister channel Hulu. Still, fans worried about series like the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again. Some worried that Iger would tone it down now. A source explained:
Iger won’t unring that bell. It’s too late. Disney Plus subscribers have watched Netflix’ mature Daredevil show. They won’t reboot it with a watered-down version.
On March 18, 2022, I scooped that Marvel Studios will keep the adult nature of Netflix’ Daredevil. On the contrary, star Charlie Cox admitted he’d be open to a PG-13 makeover. He stated:
I wouldn’t put it past the folks at Marvel to be able to accomplish that, I’m such a fan of everything they’ve done so far, I wouldn’t underestimate them at all. So, if they wanted to make a more PG version of Daredevil, I back them to find a way to do it where it feels totally in keeping with everything we’ve done. And maybe there’s a little less blood, maybe there’s a little whatever, but I back them to do it.
Exclusive: Bob Iger Won’t Water Down R-Rated Daredevil: Born Again
Image: Disney Plus
In addition, Cox’ lighter tone on She-Hulk: Attorney at Law stirred those fears. On the other hand, She-Hulk was a legal comedy. It wasn’t supposed to be dark and gritty. After all, most She-Hulk comic books delivered inspired goofiness.
Insiders claim Marvel Studios won’t shift direction with Daredevil: Born Again. Furthermore, when Jon Bernthal’s the Punisher enters the MCU, he’ll have guns blazing and plenty of gore. At least on his new TV-MA series for Disney Plus.