The Batman: Robert Pattinson-Zoë Kravitz film rated PG-13

It seems that Matt Reeves' dark rendition of one of DC’s most popular heroes in The Batman isn't as violent and gritty as fans expected. The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given the upcoming film a PG-13 rating.

According to a report in Variety, the MPA had rated the film as so for its “strong violent and disturbing content, drug content, strong language, and some suggestive material.” Ever since the film’s trailer was released, fans had speculated that the upcoming superhero movie would be the first Batman centred film to have an R-rating, due to the violence depicted in the trailer.

Toby Emmerich, chairman of Warner Bros. Picture Group who is distributing the film, had earlier talked about how he had wanted DC to be different from the MCU, talking about how he was interested in comic book films that had violent and irreverent tones.

Previously Zack Snyder’s four-hour version of the 2017 film Justice League, which featured Ben Affleck as Batman, had been rated-R. The filmmaker’s cut was released after a massive fan campaign and was called ‘the Snyder Cut’. Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy, in which Christian Bale essayed the role of the superhero, also has a PG-13 rating. Other DC films which have been given an R rating include James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad reboot, Joker and Birds of Prey. Joker went on to become the first R-rated film to cross $1 billion at the box office.

The Batman features Robert Pattinson portray the role of Bruce Wayne or Batman. Other cast members include Paul Dano as the Riddler, Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, Colin Farrell as Penguin, and Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon.

The Batman is scheduled to be released in theatres on March 4. After 45 days of theatrical release, the film will be available to stream on HBO Max.