Ryan Reynolds Pitches R-Rated Star Wars to Disney

Ryan Reynolds recently revealed during an interview on The Box Office Podcast that he pitched an R-rated Star Wars project to Disney. While he didn’t specify whether the pitch was accepted or if it would manifest as a film or series, Reynolds shared insights into what his vision might look like.

“I pitched to Disney, I said, ‘Why don’t we do an R-rated Star Wars property?’” Reynolds explained. “It doesn’t have to be centered around A+ characters... there’s a wide range of characters you could use. By R-rated, I don’t mean vulgar—it’s a Trojan Horse for emotion. I always wonder why studios hesitate to take that gamble.”

The 10 Best Ryan Reynolds Movies

View 12 Images

Reynolds’ success in the R-rated genre is undeniable, having co-starred in three of the top five highest-grossing R-rated films ever: Deadpool, Deadpool 2, and Deadpool & Wolverine. Last year’s Deadpool & Wolverine grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide, cementing its place as the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time.

Despite his past achievements, Reynolds doubts the same commercial success would automatically translate to an R-rated Star Wars project. However, he admits it’s a concept that intrigues him, though not one he’d want to star in.

“I’m not saying I would want to be in it; that would be a bad fit,” he added. “I’d rather produce and write or be behind the scenes. Those kinds of IPs thrive on scarcity and surprise. We don’t get much scarcity with Star Wars due to Disney+, but you can still shock audiences.”

Every Upcoming Star Wars Movie and TV Show

View 21 Images

While fans may be curious about the potential for an R-rated Star Wars project, Reynolds’ focus remains on Marvel Studios. Despite his reservations about Deadpool joining the Avengers, he’s reportedly quietly advocating for a Deadpool and X-Men film. Meanwhile, other projects like Star Wars: Starfighter, which Shawn Levy (a frequent collaborator with Reynolds) is working on, continue to develop with light details available. Barbie’s Ryan Gosling is confirmed to star in that project.