Disney Chairman Alan Horn Addresses R-Rated Films, James Gunn's Firing, and STAR WARS: EPISODE IX
We’ve got some additional insight regarding a few things involving Disney and some of the most popular properties. During a recent interview with THR, Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn touched on a number of topics including R-rated Marvel movies, James Gunn being fired from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Star Wars: Episode IX.
When it comes to the R-rated Marvel movies, it seems like they are looking forward to making these kinds of films under a separate banner. While Deadpool isn’t specifically mentioned, we know that’s what he’s talking about:
"With Fox, we can make movies that right now I say no to. Take Bohemian Rhapsody, which is PG-13. It's a hit movie and very, very good. But there's no way we could make it under the Disney label because the characters smoke cigarettes and other content. Nor could we have made [Warner Bros.' R-rated] Oscar-winning Argo because the characters smoke and use the F-word. We always have to think about the smoking policy. The audience for a Disney movie may not know what they are going to see, but they know what they aren't going to see. There are certain things we just can't include because we'll get letters."
It’s good to know that they are going to have some fun playing in the R-rated side of Marvel. Horn went on to talk about the firing of James Gunn, and when asked if he thinks studios are going to start doing more extensive background checks, he explains:
"I would say no. I don't think we do extensive background checks to see what a person has said. I feel sad for some of the people ensnared in all of this. And sometimes I feel like, ‘Wow, what they said is so outrageous that it must have occurred to them that it would have repercussions.’ It's a very open world now, and this stuff is a matter of record. The admonition is: Be careful."
Gunn has no chance of working for Disney or Marvel again, which is a shame. But, he’ll be fine. I’m sure we’ll see him do some more great things.
Talk then turned to J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode IX when he was asked if the movie was going to put the franchise back on the right track after Star Wars: The Last Jedi. This was his response:
"I just got back from the United Kingdom, which is not so united. (Laughs.) I went to the set, and was with J.J. [Abrams], Kathy and the cast. I watched a couple of scenes being shot and then we all had dinner. I have not seen a cut of it yet, but I watch dailies every weekend and send J.J. and Kathy a note every weekend. It's a big deal, and it's going to be terrific."
As for what comes next with the films, he says that it’s “all in discussion.” It’s going to be interesting to see what the future of the franchise is going to look like after Episode IX. I just hope that Abrams closes out the saga with a film that will unite the fans.