“Blade Runner” came out in 1982, just before the PG-13 era began in 1984 with “Red Dawn.” If it were to come out today, with some relatively insignificant cuts, it would have most likely garnered a PG-13 rating. There weren’t any overtly violent sequences nor was there really any drug use or nudity. And yet, here we are in 2017, and director Denis Villeneuve and writer Hampton Fancher, who wrote the original’s screenplay, have made a sequel, “Blade Runner 2049,” that has just been given an R rating.
The MPAA has released its list of upcoming film ratings and “Blade Runner 2049” has been listed as “Rated R for violence, some sexuality, nudity & language”. This comes as no surprise as Villeneuve had hinted just a few months ago to Screen Daily that the rating was all but confirmed.
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“My producers are finding it fun to remind me that it will be one of the most expensive R-rated independent feature films ever made,” he said.
I’m glad this is getting an R rating, but that wasn’t really an issue to begin with. Whether the film was PG-13 or R, it wouldn’t have deterred from the story, which is more about existential mystery and suspense than any kind of outright violence. Although, it seems like Villeneuve is upping the ante in regards to the violence with this sequel.
“Blade Runner 2049” will be released on October 6th.