Fright Sabre: New 'scary' Star Wars film set to get 12A rating

New film gets 12A rating after censors in US say it’s ‘too scary’ for kids 

'Not suitable for under 12s' ... The Force Awakens has been given a PG13 - a 12A in the UK

THE new Star Wars film may not be suitable for children under 12 despite makers Disney targeting billions of pounds worth of merchandise at them.

Scary ... Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver, is the new film's villain

Censors in the US have given The Force Awakens a PG13 certificate, the equivalent of a 12A in the UK.

It means the film is considered “not generally suitable” for those under 12, who can still see it with an adult. The Force Awakens includes violence.

The seventh Star Wars instalment could be the biggest box office hit of all time. But Disney is likely to make more through merchandising than ticket sales.

One of its biggest sellers ahead of Christmas has been cute droid BB-8 which is aimed at primary school kids. Disney also sells a Play-Doh Millennium Falcon for those three-plus. Lego toys are out of stock in many stores.

What Chew think about that ... cuddly toy aimed at kids

But Marc Gander, from the Consumer Action Group, said it puts “unfair pressure on parents”.

If it is given a 12A rating, it will follow superhero films like Spider-Man and Avengers Assemble. Fred Isaac, of consumer website www.aspokesmansaid.com, said: “Too many Hollywood movies about kids’ heroes are being made too violent for their young fans.”