The Parents Television and Media Council (PTC) has criticized Disney+ ahead of the debut of Daredevil, The Punisher, and other Netflix-produced Marvel TV shows on the streaming platform on March 16, 2022. All six Defenders universe shows (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, The Punisher, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Defenders) are rated TV-MA (Mature Audiences Only) and thus are unsuitable for children. This does not sit well with the PTC, who last week slammed HBO’s Euphoria as well, calling it “grossly irresponsible” for its graphic depiction of nudity, drug use, and child abuse.
Disney+ previously didn’t have any content rated higher than PG-13, which contributed to its family-friendly appeal. The PTC recently cautioned the company against adding mature content, saying it would “destroy your brand.” In a statement addressed to Disney, Tim Winter, president of the PTC, said:
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“For more than 98 years, the Walt Disney Company has been synonymous with the words Family Friendly, and I can think of no other corporation in American history that has been built more squarely on the backs – and on the wallets – of parents and families. The company’s eponymous platform Disney+ logically marketed itself as a family-friendly streaming service, and parents have placed their trust in Disney to deliver just that. It seems wildly ‘off-brand’ for Disney+ to add TV-MA and R-rated programming to this platform, ostensibly to increase subscription revenue. So what comes next, adding live striptease performances in Fantasyland at Disney World?”
The PTC is furious at Disney, as is apparent by that last remark, which was completely uncalled for. Winter also declares the move as an attempt to increase subscribers. However, the council is in favor of Disney’s decision to add stricter parental controls, but unlike everyone else, the PTC seems to have misjudged the streamer’s intention in doing that. Winter further states that Disney will risk tarnishing its legacy if it streams explicit content like other streaming services.
“While we applaud Disney+ for improving their parental controls, the mere presence of MA- and R-rated content violates the trust of families, and may well turn them off entirely. There is no need for Disney+ to compete with the explicit content on other streaming platforms. Disney is already at a competitive advantage with a streaming platform that is the safest one out there for families. Its foray into TV-MA-rated fare will forever tarnish its family friendly crown.”
Related: What Marvel’s Daredevil Move to Disney+ Could Mean for the Hero
Disney+ Will Be New Home Of Daredevil and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The rights to Netflix’s Marvelverse (now called Defenders Universe) shows reverted to Disney in 2020, but the shows themselves remained on Netflix. But as of March 1, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and the rest are without a home and will soon be available to stream on Disney+. This decision also paves the way for the Disney+ debut of Deadpool, Punisher, Blade, and other Marvel characters previously deemed too violent for the platform.
Speaking of which, the Defenders shows-although aimed at adults-are remarkably restrained in the violence and nudity department compared to competitors like HBO Max’s Peacemaker. And anyway, what would stricter parental controls accomplish if the entire Disney+ catalog is already kid-friendly.
ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, along with all the former Netflix shows, will arrive on Disney+ in the U.S. on March 16, 2022.
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About The Author
Mudit Chhikara
(200 Articles Published)
Mudit Chhikara is a news writer at MovieWeb. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics, but being a lifelong cinephile, Mudit decided to write about movies for a living.
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