http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/9251513/Prometheus-to-be-rated-R-in-the-US.htmlPrometheus to be rated R in the US
20th Century Fox has confirmed that it will not edit Ridley Scott's Alien prequel in order to secure a PG-13 rating.
After a weekend of speculation, 20th Century Fox has confirmed that Prometheus, the prequel to Alien, will have an R rating in the US.
Director Ridley Scott had recently suggested that the final film may end up being edited by studio executives to ensure a PG-13 rating. With the film having a budget of $100 million, it was anticipated that the studio would want a big a return on it as possible.
In the US, an R rating means that no one under the age of 17 can buy a ticket without being accompanied by an adult. This limitation can naturally impact ticket sales but it seems that 20th Century Fox are standing by the film that Scott has made.
It is an unusual decision as big-budget R-rated blockbusters are rarely seen these days as studios demand bigger and bigger returns on their investment.
The studio confirmed that the film’s strict rating given by MPAA was for its use of “sci-fi violence including some intense images, and brief language”. 20th Century Fox CEO Tom Rothman told the film website Collider that, regardless of the rating, “the film will not be compromised either way”.
Much though this may be bad news for sci-fi-loving children, for purists who do not want to see the film diluted this news has been welcome. Buzz has been growing around the prequel for months, with seemingly endless teaser trailers being released and large amounts of online speculation about the film’s plot.
The film is likely to receive a 15 rating in the UK, although this has not yet been confirmed.
