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More Details on the R-Rated “Ultimate Edition” of BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE

A few weeks ago, it was revealed that an R-rated directors cut of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was coming to home video later this year. Dubbed the “Ultimate Edition,” this news spawned much discussion, both positive and negative. We learned yesterday that the cut will contain more brutal fight scenes, as well as additional DC movie references. And now, these reasons have been elaborated on.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, star Ben Affleck says that he understands both sides of the PG-13 vs. R argument. He wants to take his kids to a PG-13 film, but he himself likes to watch R movies. Well, the Ultimate Edition of Batman v Superman means that people on both sides win. “I think nowadays because we have so many means of distribution and ways that we can do different things, it’s the creative solution to a creative challenge. You can have multiple versions and I can show my son and my daughters this movie and feel confident that the stuff isn’t too crazy, and then grownups can see larger version, [which is like] the red-band trailer. They can see the more adult version of that movie.”


Director Zack Snyder weighs in, explaining that he wanted the home video release of Batman v Superman to be full of bonus content not found in the theatrical cut. While the Ultimate Edition’s runtime is unknown, the theatrical version will run a whopping 2 hours and 31 minutes. Snyder says, “We were just like, ‘Okay, look. We’re not making a three-hour movie. I mean, even I didn’t want to make a three-hour movie. I drove the cuts probably harder than anyone. The studio, they were willing to let the movie indulge pretty hard. But I felt like it’s at a manageable two-and-a-half hours. Let’s also not forget the credits are super long, the end credits. So the movie’s closer to two hours and 22 minutes.” 


In the Ultimate Edition, some actors who aren’t in the theatrical cut will get expanded storylines. One of these is Jena Malone, whose mystery character has been removed from the final film. Snyder refuses to confirm her character, but denies rumors that she is playing Robin or Batgirl. “I think we should keep it private, but it’s nothing that’s been talked about. She’s definitely not Robin or Batgirl. I’m happy to say that.” 

As for who else is in the Ultimate Edition, Snyder explains, “There’s a couple, like, Ahman Green, the running back from the Green Bay Packers, he’s in it. And C.T. Fletcher is like this bodybuilder muscle-guru from Compton, this awesome guy. He’s amazing, and he’s in it. And then there’s just a lot of these Easter Eggs in the Director’s Cut that I think are gonna be fun for everyone.”

Speaking of Easter eggs, Snyder says that the Ultimate Edition of Batman v Superman will contain a “giant” reference to Justice League. “There’s one giant one that I won’t tell you about yet that speaks to what’s gonna go on in the greater Justice League universe.” What do you think this Easter egg could be?

And now, for why the Ultimate Edition has an R-rating. The official classification says that the rating is for “sequences of violence.” And now, producer Charles Roven elaborates on this. He says that the content in the Ultimate Edition isn’t excessive, but there are “intense” sequences that are expanded from what can be seen in the theatrical cut. “There’s not a lot of blood in our movies. The ratings board also judges their PG-13 and R ratings by what they consider to be a level of intensity and how much that intensity goes throughout the entire movie. There are some pretty intense scenes in Batman v Superman, and if they went on longer and had that same level of intensity, that might cause the ratings board to shift their rating.”


Oh, and despite the recent success of Fox’s Deadpool, an R-rated superhero flick, Warner Bros. will stick with PG-13 ratings for the DCEU – at least for the theatrical versions. Among these is Suicide Squad, which hits theaters in August, On that movie, Roven says, “I think right now we’re going for the PG-13. I don’t know that that’s going to materially change. We can give that movie the edge that it needs and still maintain a PG-13.” 


For more on Batman v Superman, be sure to pick up the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is scheduled to hit theaters March 25th. The second installment in the DC Extended Universe stars Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter and Gal Gadot. Zack Snyder directs from a script by Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer.

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of WOBAM! Entertainment.