Our pals over at DiscussingFilm have learned that Sony Pictures might be aiming to release a tamer version of their Bloodshot movie than we had previously thought. As the studio might be attempting to cut Bloodshot to a PG-13 rating, possibly to be more attractive to foreign markets like China and Venom’s recent box office success in the Middle Kingdom might have something to do with watering down the violence.

However, per our sources, we have also heard that the film is potentially eyeing a PG-13 rating for the current cut of the film. This would help Sony reach a wider market with ‘Bloodshot’ as well as keeping a consistent wider market open for their entire Valiant Cinematic Universe, however, since the character is known for being hard R, will this potential decision pay off for Sony?

They also add a new synopsis for the comic book movie.

“After he and his wife are murdered, Marine Ray Garrison (Vin Diesel) is resurrected by a secret team of scientists. Enhanced with nanotechnology, he becomes a superhuman, biotech killing machine – Bloodshot. As Ray first trains with fellow super-soldiers, he cannot recall anything from his former life. But when his memories flood back and he remembers the man that killed both he and his wife, he breaks out of the facility hellbent on revenge, only to discover that there’s more to the conspiracy than he originally thought.”

This would suggest the film won’t be the R-rated film that we had originally expected.

What could be happening is that Sony might be testing various cuts of the film to gauge what version audiences prefer. The other options could be that they’re only pursuing a PG-13 cut or that they might be cutting a PG-13 version for a market like China and will release it as R in other markets. Deadpool 2 initially released as mature feature only to be re-released as PG-13 cut titled Once Upon A Deadpool and was able to secure a release in China.

Bloodshot’s cast includes Vin Diesel, Eiza Gonzalez (Alita: Battle Angel, Godzilla vs Kong, Hobbs and Shaw), Sam Heughan (Outlander), Guy Pearce (Prometheus, Iron Man 3), and Tobey Kebbell (Kong: Skull Island, Dawn of The Planet of The Apes) with first-time feature director Dave Wilson at the helm working from a script penned by Arrival screenwriter Eric Heisserer.

Sony Pictures has given Bloodshot a release date on February 21st, 2020.

SOURCE: DISCUSSING FILM