Disney’s upcoming PG-rated musical film Newsies includes “smoking images,” reports the MPAA’s latest rating bulletin.
In June 2015, Disney updated its policy on “Smoking in Movies” to state:
• Disney has determined not to depict cigarette smoking in movies produced by it after 2015 (2007 in the case of Disney branded movies) and distributed under the Disney, Pixar, Marvel or Lucasfilm labels, that are rated G, PG or PG-13, except for scenes that:
• depict a historical figure who may have smoked at the time of his or her life; or
• portray cigarette smoking in an unfavorable light or emphasize the negative consequences of smoking.
“Disney’s Newsies the Broadway Musical” is a filmed stage performance by the musical's Broadway cast.
The current musical is based on a 1992 Disney musical film set during the 1899 New York newsboys' strike. With a small $2 million production budget, the film opens 16 February 2017 in a limited release from Disney Theatrical Group, a New York-based subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios.
The film is produced by Fathom Events, which broadcasts “exclusive events” to theaters in the AMC, Cinemark and Regal chains. The MPAA rating is #50812.