The first Venom was originally developed with an R-rating in mind, but Sony Pictures ultimately decided to tone down the violence and bring the movie in at PG-13. After the movie's success, the studio would have been foolish to change-up the formula, but there were rumors that the upcoming sequel would be hit with the more adult-oriented rating.
Now, it's come to light that the MPA has officially rated Venom: Let There Be Carnage PG-13 for "intense sequences of violence and action, some strong language, disturbing material and suggestive references."
This shouldn't come as much of a surprise to most, though it could certainly be argued that Venom (Tom Hardy) and Carnage (Woody Harrelson) are characters that would benefit from an R-rating. Still, if the above content listing is any indication, director Andy Serkis and co. do plan on pushing the boundaries of the more family-friendly rating.
As the title suggests, the Sony Pictures sequel will see Venom go fang-to-fang with his arch-nemesis from the comics, Carnage. The first movie proved to be highly divisive, but many fans are likely to give Let There Be Carnage a chance just to witness that long-awaited battle on the big screen.
Michelle Williams and Reid Scott are also set to reprise their roles from Venom, and they'll be Joined by Naomie Harris as the villainous Shriek, and Stephen Graham as an unnamed copper (he can be glimpsed in the trailer reading the Daily Bugle). Sean Delaney, Laurence Spellman, and Larry Olubamiwo are also on board in undisclosed roles.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage is set for release on October 15. You can check out the most recent trailer below.
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Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.