(MENAFN- Arab Times) Chinese censors have rejected a cut of "World War Z," Paramount's film about the zombie apocalypse starring Brad Pitt, an executive familiar with upcoming releases in China told TheWrap. A Paramount executive said that the studio had not yet heard back from China's censorship office, and was unaware of any rejection. The decision is potentially significant as the inability to screen in China would limit one of the year's most expensive movies, reportedly $200 million, from having access to the world's second biggest market. A release in China could contribute tens of millions of dollars in grosses to the film's bottom line. "It definitely got rejected the first time" it was submitted, said the executive, who is close to China's decision-making structure, which is run by the state. "It has not been cleared." He said the decision came down a week ago. The Paramount executive countered: "We have submitted one version and have yet to receive a response."
Resubmit
Paramount is angling for a precious release slot in a quota-driven system in China. It may yet be approved; Paramount can still resubmit the film, which opens in the United States on June 21, and hope censors change their minds. China is "always moving the goal posts," the executive said. Several other films are still waiting to see whether they gain approval, as China often rewards a release date after a movie even opens.
"Fast and Furious 6," a already a hit at home and overseas, will not open in China until July 26, at which point it should be thoroughly pirated in that country. As TheWrap previously reported, Paramount already changed "World War Z" as a preemptive move to increase the movie's chances of being approved. In the scene, officials debated whether a global outbreak originated in China. Paramount removed the line "China is dark," but the line was played during a Super Bowl advertising spot, which China knew about.
Other hurdles to Chinese approval of the film include a sensitivity to Pitt, who is remembered for having starred in "Seven Years in Tibet," which highlighted Tibet's struggle for autonomy in the wake of Chinese invasion and capture of that nation. The film also features zombies, which are subject to censor scrutiny in a country that does not like depictions of magic, horror or superstition. The film has drawn an incredible amount of attention ever since Paramount postponed its release, hired Damon Lindelof to rewrite the end and reshot parts of the movie.
Paramount executives are now very optimistic about the film, but there's no question that being deprived a release in China would hurt the box office potential of a $200M+ production. China's value as a market was underlined for Paramount over the weekend, when the studio's "Star Trek Into Darkness" wrapped its first week of release there with more than $25 million. Among the movies that have been cleared include Warner Bros.' "Man of Steel" and "Pacific Rim," Sony's "After Earth" and "White House Down" and Universal's "Fast and Furious 6."
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LONDON: Brad Pitt wants the music for "World War Z" to be much more than a footnote. Pitt says that while making the zombie flick, out on June 21, he wanted the film's soundtrack to have songs reminiscent of those made for "The Exorcist." Enter Muse, which recorded the instrumental track "Isolated System" for the movie. Pitt says the pairing of the British band with the film was "nice kismet." He says the band members were actually reading the "World War Z" book when they were recording their latest album, "The 2nd Law." Muse was at the London premiere of the film on Sunday, performing a special outdoor concert at Horse Guards Parade park for the occasion.
LOS ANGELES: Boyd Holbrook, who starred in "The Host" and "Hatfields & McCoys," has joined the cast of Gavin O'Connor's much-discussed Western "Jane Got a Gun," which was recently acquired by Relativity Media and the Weinstein Co. Additionally, Holbrook has firmed up his commitment to the indie drama "Little Accidents," in which he'll star opposite Elizabeth Banks. Sara Colangelo wrote and will direct "Little Accidents," a feature adaptation of her 2010 award-winning short film that premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Anne Carey is producing the movie, which was also selected for the Sundance Institute's 2011 Screenwriters Lab. Holbrook will play the lone survivor of a tragic accident that kills 12 men in a small mining town. Banks will play a woman whose son goes missing in the accident and seeks comfort and companionship from Holbrook's character.
The lead role in "Little Accidents" may have extra poignancy for Holbrook, whose father operated a bulldozer in a coal mine for 30 years. In "Jane Got a Gun," Holbrook will play Ewan McGregor's younger brother. McGregor plays an outlaw who clashes with star Natalie Portman and her husband, played by Joel Edgerton. Holbrook is an up-and-coming actor who has quickly amassed a long list of noteworthy projects. He recently starred opposite Saoirse Ronan in Open Road's adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's "The Host" and in Steven Soderbergh's HBO telepic "Behind the Candelabra." He has also wrapped an untitled Terrence Malick project with Christian Bale, Michael Fassbender and Rooney Mara, as well as Scott Cooper's "Out of the Furnace" with Bale and "Skeleton Twins" with Kristen Wiig. Holbrook next stars alongside Liam Neeson in Scott Frank's Universal picture "A Walk Among the Tombstones," as well as the Sundance movie "Very Good Girls" with Dakota Fanning and Elizabeth Olsen. He's represented by CAA and manager Cathy Kanner. Â
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