'Deadpool,' 'Deadpool 2' & 'Logan' Join Disney+ Marvel Collection As First R-Rated Movies On The Streamer

Today’s big news on the Marvel front may foretell more about the MCU‘s future than any mid/post-credits scene has all year.  Disney+ announced today that “Deadpool,” “Deadpool 2,” and “Logan” will arrive on the streaming service in the US tomorrow, July 22. So, why’s this big news? Well, these three films are the first R-Rated films on the streamer, which means their old “No R-Rated Movies” policy is now officially kaput.

READ MORE: ‘Deadpool 3’ Writers Say The Film Is Staying R-Rated & Marvel Won’t Make A ‘Disney-fied Deadpool”

And with San Diego Comic-Con kicking off this weekend, the arrival of previous “Deadpool” films on Disney+ foreshadows a big announcement about the upcoming “Deadpool 3.”  Shawn Levy‘s sequel won’t land in theaters until 2024 at the earliest. However, fans know that the movie marks The Merc With The Mouth’s entrance into the MCU proper. So, it’s safe to expect Ryan Reynolds, or Levy, or Kevin Feige, or some MCU-affiliated figure will drop some info about the upcoming film this weekend.  

The arrival of these films on Disney+ also hints at a grander narrative: the streamer’s walls against R-Rated material are coming down. What precedent does this set for future Marvel content on Disney+? Will the upcoming series have more mature themes than previous ones? Could it possibly affect future “Star Wars” content that’s also a little more risque? For what it’s worth, Disney+’s press release about the trio’s arrival states, “With the addition of these new titles, subscribers are invited to revisit their parental controls settings to ensure a viewing experience most suitable for them and their family.” So, maybe this doesn’t mean Disney+ is about to shed its family-friendly agenda entirely.  

Still, this announcement is a game-changer. With the addition of Netflix‘s Marvel shows and these three movies, it at least confirms that Disney is allowing the MCU a harder edge on its platform. But what does it foretell about the MCU’s future, particularly “Deadpool 3”? The movie’s writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick swear that their movie will be R-Rated and won’t be “Disney-fied Deadpool,” but is there truth to their claims?  Tune in to our coverage of SDCC this weekend to find out.