‘Venom’ Shooting For PG-13 Rating In Hopes Of Potential, Future Marvel Cinematic Universe Collaboration

Now that Disney and Fox seem to have their ducks in a row and will be merging over the next year, it appears the Sony is the only studio with any Marvel properties to exploit. And boy, do they plan on being exploitative. With a reported 900 Marvel characters at the studio’s disposal, thanks to the rights to Spider-Man, Sony has big plans for its Spider-Verse. That is, if “Venom,” the first film in the cinematic universe, does well.

To maximize the box office potential of “Venom” and to, potentially, ensure a future with a certain other cinematic universe, Sony is apparently making some concessions that fans might not be expecting.

According to Variety, even though many assumed the film would be R-rated, Sony planning on releasing “Venom” as PG-13 in October. And the main reason for this is obvious — more money.

The report says that the studio is concerned that an R-rated “Venom” might limit the film’s potential far too much. It isn’t a surprise that Sony wants the film to make a ton of money, and while “Logan” and “Deadpool” have proven R-rated superheroes can work, the studio’s plans for “Venom” are much more far-reaching than those franchises. You see, money is definitely a factor in this decision, but the second reason is a bit more complicated.

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We already know that Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will not appear in “Venom,” much to the chagrin of comic book fans worldwide. However, Sony is thinking about the long game. Sure, Spider-Man won’t be in this film, but the studio hopes that the success of “Venom,” combined with the blossoming relationship with Disney/Marvel Studios, means that the superhero could appear in future installments. And if that is to be the case, “Venom” can’t possibly feature anything above a PG-13 rating.

Not only that, but Sony thinks that even further down the line, as the studio expands its spin-off universe, there’s even more potential for crossover between the Spider-Verse and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, outside of just Spider-Man and Venom. Basically, Sony really, really wants some Avengers in its films.

So, why is it a shock that Sony is now moving towards a PG-13 “Venom?” Well, mainly because everyone associated with the film has been saying an R-rating is the plan. Just last month, in an interview with ComicBook.com, director Ruben Fleischer said, “That’s the plan. It is not the plan, that’s the movie. Our movie wants to honor the comics as close as we can tonally. In the comics, he bites people’s heads off and eats brains. It would be weird to make a movie with Venom if he wasn’t doing that. We tried to honor it as closely as possible. This is definitely a darker, more violent, more vicious Marvel character than I think anyone’s ever seen before.”

Hmmm, last I checked, it’s pretty difficult to show decapitations and brain eating in a PG-13 film.

In the Variety piece, a Sony executive seconds the idea of being faithful to the comics, but again, probably with a PG-13 rating. “We’re focused on being faithful to the comics,” said Sanford Panitch, president of Columbia Pictures. Can Sony be faithful and honor the character of Venom with a PG-13 rating? Sure. But not how the director says. Something’s probably going to change in the editing room.

One guy who doesn’t give a shit is “Venom” star Tom Hardy. In an Esquire profile, the actor was asked about the big Spider-Verse risk that Sony is about to bet on. “If the odds are stacked against Sony, that’s not my fucking business,” Hardy says. “It’s irrelevant.”

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Hardy is the real wildcard in all of this. In all the marketing materials leading up to the release of “Venom,” the actor’s performance is the most debated aspect of the film. Again, Hardy seems to be creating a very…unique…character for “Venom” and so far, fans aren’t sure what to make of it.

When asked to describe his influences for his “Venom” character, Hardy said, “Woody Allen’s tortured neurosis and all the humor that can come from that. Conor McGregor—the überviolence but not all the talking. And [rapper] Redman, out of control, living rent-free in his head.”

Well, okay then.

Sony is most definitely betting on “Venom” to be a breakout hit. And with the new rating and Hardy’s inspired performance, we might very well see a big MCU team up in the future.