Margot Robbie may not be reprising her role as the infamously notorious anti-hero, Harley Quinn, on the big screen, but the character's portrayal has been entrusted to capable hands with Lady Gaga taking the lead in Joker: Folie à Deux. With all eyes on the fresh face to reimagine the theatrical masterpiece in a new way, the first official poster from the upcoming movie has been rolled out with the reception of an R-rated tag just ahead of its trailer release. 

Given the film's R-rating designation, here are the underlying reasons that substantiate its classification.

When Joker hit the theatres in 2019, it swiftly accelerated its position in the box office as one of the highest-grossing R-rated movies. With Joker: Folie à à Deux receiving the same classification, a similar wave of frenzy might soon be in the works. However, the reasons behind the designation range from “strong violence”, to its usage of language, display of sensuality, and “brief full nudity” as per the Motion Picture Association’s rating board. 

Even though the plotline remains under wraps for now, with the trailer slated for drop on April 9, the fog might get some clearance. Besides this, reports from Variety also suggest that Lady Gaga will be lending her vocals to at least 15 songs. Additionally, she might pen and perform two originals as per insiders. But for the rest of the story to bear transparency, fans will have to wait till its theatrical release on October 4. 

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That being said, with Joker: Folie à Deux bagging an R-rated tag, this year might witness an MCU-DCEU showdown. 

The age-old MCU and DCEU battle is gearing up for this year and this time sharpening their swords with R-rated entries are Joker: Folie à Deux and MCU’s priority tagged Deadpool & Wolverine. Although Deadpool & Wolverine is set for a release in July, the final say will only come clear in October. Furthermore, given both the movies are R-rated, there are similarities to lean on.

For instance, both films will feature significant levels of violence. Moreover, Deadpool & Wolverine marks the first MCU movie to center on a character previously featured in Fox's Marvel Movies, while the sequel to Joker will take on a musical format, a first for the DCEU. Considering Joker surpassed Deadpool 2 to become the highest-grossing R-rated box office release, this competition will be in a close contest once again. Therefore, it remains to be seen whether history will repeat itself or if a new narrative will emerge.

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What do you think of the reasons behind Joker: Folie à Deux starring Lady Gaga bagging its R-rated label? Let us know in the comments below!