Get ready, Star Wars fans, because the galaxy far, far away might just get a dose of Deadpool-style audacity! Ryan Reynolds, the charismatic star and creative force behind the R-rated smash-hit Deadpool franchise, has revealed he pitched a mature, R-rated Star Wars project to Disney.
Speaking on The Box Office Podcast, Reynolds shared his vision for a grittier, more emotionally resonant take on the beloved universe. He emphasized that an R-rating wouldn’t be about gratuitous vulgarity, but rather a “Trojan Horse for emotion.”
“I pitched to Disney, I said, ‘Why don’t we do an R-rated Star Wars property?’” Reynolds explained. “It doesn’t have to be like, an overt, A+ characters… there’s a wide range of characters you could use. I don’t mean R-rated to be vulgar. R-rated is a Trojan Horse for emotion, and I always wonder why studios don’t want to just gamble on something like that.”
While details remain scarce on whether Disney accepted the pitch or if it would be a movie or TV series, the very idea from a proven hitmaker like Reynolds is thrilling. With his track record of successfully navigating R-rated territory – Deadpool, Deadpool 2, and the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine are among the highest-grossing R-rated films ever – Reynolds knows how to deliver content that resonates with adult audiences.
Interestingly, Reynolds isn’t angling for a starring role in this potential Star Wars venture. “I’m not saying I would want to be in it; that would be a bad fit,” he admitted. Instead, he envisions a behind-the-scenes role: “I would want to produce and write, or be a part of behind-the-scenes.” He believes that such iconic properties “subsist really well on scarcity and surprise,” suggesting a mature take could offer a fresh and unexpected direction for the franchise.
While fans might have to wait to see if this R-rated Star Wars dream becomes a reality, Disney is actively expanding the Star Wars universe. Intriguingly, Shawn Levy, a frequent collaborator with Reynolds and director of Deadpool & Wolverine, is already tapped to direct an upcoming Star Wars movie, Star Wars: Starfighter.
Could an emotionally charged, R-rated Star Wars be on the horizon? If Ryan Reynolds has anything to say about it, the Force might just be getting a powerful, mature new awakening.
