The studio reportedly plans to revise a scene that causes the documentary to get an R rating, while scheduling to release the tweaked version on April 13.
- Mar 31, 2012
AceShowbiz - "Bully" might be re-edited to secure a PG-13 rating after all. Amid dispute between The Weinstein Company and the MPAA over the film's protracted rating, it was reported that the studio is planning to release a tweaked version of the controversial documentary that will earn the film a lower rating.
Insiders told Los Angeles Times that Weinstein Co. will release the re-cut version on April 13, when the movie widens to 25 markets in the U.S. The current version of the film has been opening in limited theaters in New York and Los Angeles as an "unrated" movie despite the fact that the MPAA has granted an R rating to it.
The scene that caused the film to get an R rating was the one that sees a teen threatening his fellow student using a foul language when they are sitting side-by-side on a bus. It is still unclear if the Weinstein Co. will simply cut the scene or just trim the obscenities.
The Weinstein Co. claimed that the changes are not being made now, but admitting that there is a possibility to edit the film in the coming weeks. The studio's head of marketing, Stephen Bruno, said, "At this time, there are no plans to change the film for a PG-13. We are in constant conversation with the MPAA and hope a compromise can be reached."
Previously, multiple observes have suggested that the studio revises the particular scene. However, Harvey Weinstein and director Lee Hirsch insisted they would not cut the controversial scene, claiming that they want to show the force that bullied kids face. 'I did that on 'The King's Speech' and Colin [Firth] and Tom [Hooper] killed me for it," said Weinstein.
Being released in limited theaters on March 30, "Bully" follows five kids and families over the course of a school year. The stories include two families who have lost children to suicide and a mother awaiting the fate of her 14-year-old daughter who has been incarcerated after bringing a gun on her school bus.
The movie has grabbed the headlines ever since The Weinstein Co. lost appeal to secure a PG-13 rating in early February. Weinstein threatened to leave the MPAA and organized petition signature drives by student to put pressure on the MPAA.
