Follow us on Google News

Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed

There are a slew of R-rated superhero films and shows in the current landscape of the genre, yet there are certain classic superheroes who can benefit from such storytelling. Batman is one such character that can do wonders with an R-rating. However, it doesn’t t make sense for any IP to change ratings in between installments, which makes what happened with the two-part animated adaptation ofThe Long Halloweeneven more frustrating.

A still from Batman: The Long Halloween

One odd feature ofThe Long Halloweenduology is how the first film is a PG-13 film, while its sequel was given an R-rating. In an interview with Comics Beat, Producer Butch Lukic revealed why this was the case. However, while AT&T might have been okay with the arrangement, fans were rightly mad at the lackluster handling of the rating.

Batman: The Long Halloweenwould have benefitted from an R-rating across the board

The Long Halloweenis a story that has a lot of blood and mature themes discussed in it. The first film in the two-part story was given a PG-13 rating, which was something the executives at WB wanted with the story. ProducerButch Lukictalked about this toComics Beat, saying:

“Then a few months ago DC Comics and AT&T decided they want PG-13. From now on they don’t want to do R so I had to cut stuff out of Part 1 and Part 2 to make it PG-13.”

Batman: The Long Halloween

While a slew of stories from the Batman mythos would have merited an R-rating, what worked beautifully was that PG-13 stories also resonated with fans after cuts were made to change certain aspects of the narrative.

“I’d love to do it, but…”: Why Batman: The Long Halloween Boss Won’t Do a Batman Beyond Movie

This would also have been true forBatman: The Long Halloween Part 1, if the second part had not received an R-rating, that too after the first film was deliberately altered to secure a PG-13 rating.

Despite their demands, DC Comics and AT&T were okay with the second film getting an R-rating

Despite the absolute requirement of the first film getting a PG-13 rating, DC Comics, and AT&T couldn’t care less when it came to the second film getting the R-rating. Lukic revealed:

“I guess I didn’t cut enough out from Part 2. It still got stuck with an R which turned out was fine by them. Since that was grandfathered in before they made that decision they let it go.”

“I’d love to do it, but…”: Why Batman: The Long Halloween Boss Won’t Do a Batman Beyond Movie

While this would have been a fine decision to make if the first film had managed to secure an R-rating too, this decision to go ahead with it forPart 2, but not allow the first film to get an R-rating was not only frustrating to fans but also felt extremely lacklustere to audiences. Further, an R-rating alienated a significant chunk of the audience that was allowed to watch the first film, but now legally could not consume the second film, thanks to the altered ratings.

Anuraag Chatterjee

Content Writer

Articles Published :1633

Anuraag Chatterjee, Web Content WriterWith a passion for writing fiction and non fiction content, Anuraag is a Media Science graduate with 2 year’s experience with Marketing and Content, with 3 published poetry anthologies. Anuraag holds a Bacherlor’s degree in Arts with a focus on Communication and Media Studies.

More from Anuraag Chatterjee

J.K. Rowling’s Biggest Harry Potter Plothole: First Female Death Eater’s Age Makes No Sense

The Octopus Behind Jo Yu-ri Might Be the Saddest Spoiler of Squid Game Season 3

Ballerina Box Office Couldn’t Even Beat the Worst Disney Live Action Movie of the Decade

Ballad of a Small Player: Everything We Know About the Colin Farrell Movie

These 5 Monster Horror Shows Are Like Alien: Earth, but Better

Brandon Sanderson’s ‘Isles of the Emberdark’ Ending Explained

Aubrey Plaza Says This Miles Teller Horror Movie Defined Her Grief After Husband’s Death

Tobey Maguire And Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man Era Dies In 2027: Reports

George Lucas vs. Steven Spielberg: The Ultimate Showdown of Hollywood’s Richest Directors

Butch Lukic

Batman & Joker in Batman: The Long Halloween Part Two

J.K. Rowling’s Biggest Harry Potter Plothole: First Female Death Eater’s Age Makes No Sense