Deadpool Officially Rated 15 In Britain

Here at last is the news comic book movie fans have been expecting for some time: ‘Deadpool’ has been given a 15 certificate by the British Board of Film Classification.

This has been pretty much a foregone conclusion ever since it was announced back on 1 April 2015 that the 20th Century Fox ‘X-Men’ spin-off would be aiming for an R-rating in the US, as opposed to the more usual PG-13.

Still, as some R-rated movies wind up with 18 certificates in the UK, there was always the chance it might have gone higher.

According to the BBFC website, the 108 minute long film from director Tim Miller has been passed without cuts, and has been deemed to fit within the 15 certificate because of “strong bloody violence, strong language and sex references.”

Of course, you only need to see any of the redband trailers to know this would be the case.

Having been in development over five years (since Ryan Reynolds first portrayed a watered-down version of the character in ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’), one of the key reasons ‘Deadpool’ has been delayed so long was studio insecurity about making an R-rated superhero movie.

However, overwhelming fan support - particularly after a test footage video from 2011 was leaked online - convinced 20th Century Fox that the audience demand was there.

Subsequently we’ve seen a bold, sardonic marketing campaign promising something very different, more humourous and more adult (though not necessarily more mature) than we’re used to from contemporary superhero movies.

Perhaps ironically, an online petition was recently started by YouTube star Grace Randolph, requesting the film be cut for a PG-13 so her viewer’s kids can see it.

Although the petition has over 3,000 signatures, a great many fans - and the makers of ‘Deadpool’ themselves - are not in agreement.

‘Deadpool’s graphic content has also seen it banned from cinema release in China.

It’s interesting to note, then, that co-star TJ Miller recently declared the unrated director’s cut, which may ultimately be released on home entertainment, is “even more raw” than the version hitting cinemas.

See for yourself just how raw the 15-rated version is when ‘Deadpool’ opens in the UK on 10 February.

Oh - and as you might have guessed, the trailer below is NSFW.

Picture Credit: 20th Century Fox

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