Hollywood eyes Chinese audiences in latest movie trailers

Movies like "Iron Man 3" are adding special actors and scenes to cater to a growing Chinese film market VIDEO

Topics: Video, International Business Times, Hollywood, China, blockbuster, film industry, ,

Hollywood eyes Chinese audiences in latest movie trailersThis undated publicity image released by Marvel shows Robert Downey Jr., as Tony Stark/Iron Man, in a scene from "Marvel's Iron Man 3." (Credit: AP Photo/Marvel)
This article originally appeared on International Business Times.

International Business Times

China is not expected to overtake the U.S. as the world’s biggest film market until 2020, but it seems that Hollywood movies have already begun catering to a growing Chinese audience.

Most recently, the makers behind the anticipated third-installment of the Marvel superhero series “Iron Man,” which was partially shot in China, announced that a different version of the film will be released, and it will differ from what audiences outside of China will see. The Chinese version of the trailer, which can be seen above, also differs from the movie’s American trailers, as it more prominently features Chinese actors and settings.

Typically, when China releases its own version of a Hollywood movie, it means the film did not pass the sometimes-arbitrary standards of the nation’s media censorship group, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, which is notorious for censoring anything that could be vaguely interpreted as offensive to China.

This time, however, legendary comic book company Marvel is behind the decision to create the special China-version of “Iron Man 3,” starring Robert Downey Jr. in the title role. According to The Diplomat, Chinese actress Fan Bingbing will be in the Chinese version of the movie, but her scenes will be cut from all non-Chinese showings.

But Marvel explained that Chinese audiences can expect more than just Fan Bingbing.

“The Chinese version of the film will also feature a special appearance of China’s top actress, Fan Bingbing, and will offer specially prepared bonus footage exclusively for the Chinese audience,” the company noted.

In addition, Chinese actor Wang Xueqi will be featured in both versions of the movie.

The production of “Iron Man 3″ has received a lot of international attention for its friendly involvement with Chinese authorities while filming and for its use of Chinese actors.

“Marvel Studios’ experience working on this film with Fan Bingbing and Wang Xueqi and in shooting in China has been very positive and has created a springboard for future collaboration with China’s talented stars and its growing film and television industry,” Marvel said.

Marvel isn’t the only entertainment company with eyes on China. Paramount Pictures had a screening of their upcoming zombie movie, “World War Z,” which stars Brad Pitt, for executives and decided to make a minor change to the film, keeping in mind a major audience: China.

According to movie-blog The Wrap, Paramount decided to alter a minor plot detail, changing the geographic origin of an outbreak that eventually caused the zombie apocalypse from China to a different location.

While Paramount executives say that the plot does not hinge on China being the origin, they made the change to be conscious of the fast-growing Chinese market, and the state censorship that would have likely carried out the the change for them.

Just yesterday, Paramount announced that the making of another potential blockbuster, “Transformers 4,” will involve working with China. Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Paramount will be co-producing the movie with two high-profile Chinese companies, China Movie Channel and Jiaflix Enterprises.

Yan Xiaoming, chairman of China Movie Channel, also announced that the collaboration on the “Transformers” film is another sign of “a new era of collaboration with Hollywood studios.”

Next Article

Related Stories

Featured Slide Shows

The week in 10 pics

close X
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11
  • This photo. President Barack Obama has a laugh during the unveiling of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Tx., Thursday. Former first lady Barbara Bush, who candidly admitted this week we've had enough Bushes in the White House, is unamused.
    Reuters/Jason Reed

  • Rescue workers converge Wednesday in Savar, Bangladesh, where the collapse of a garment building killed more than 300. Factory owners had ignored police orders to vacate the work site the day before.
    AP/A.M. Ahad

  • Police gather Wednesday at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to honor campus officer Sean Collier, who was allegedly killed in a shootout with the Boston Marathon bombing suspects last week.
    AP/Elise Amendola

  • Police tape closes the site of a car bomb that targeted the French embassy in Libya Tuesday. The explosion wounded two French guards and caused extensive damage to Tripoli's upscale al-Andalus neighborhood.
    AP/Abdul Majeed Forjani

  • Protestors rage outside the residence of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday following the rape of a 5-year-old girl in New Delhi. The girl was allegedly kidnapped and tortured before being abandoned in a locked room for two days.
    AP/Manish Swarup

  • Clarksville, Mo., residents sit in a life boat Monday after a Mississippi River flooding, the 13th worst on record.
    AP/Jeff Roberson

  • Workers pause Wednesday for a memorial service at the site of the West, Tx., fertilizer plant explosion, which killed 14 people and left a crater more than 90 feet wide.
    AP/The San Antonio Express-News, Tom Reel

  • Aerial footage of the devastation following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in China's Sichuan province last Saturday. At least 180 people were killed and as many as 11,000 injured in the quake.
    AP/Liu Yinghua

  • On Wednesday, Hazmat-suited federal authorities search a martial arts studio in Tupelo, Miss., once operated by Everett Dutschke, the newest lead in the increasingly twisty ricin case. Last week, President Barack Obama, Sen. Roger Wicker, R.-Miss., and a Mississippi judge were each sent letters laced with the deadly poison.
    AP/Rogelio V. Solis

  • The lighting of Freedom Hall at the George W. Bush Presidential Center Thursday is celebrated with (what else but) red, white and blue fireworks.
    AP/David J. Phillip

  • Recent Slide Shows

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11

Comments

0 Comments

Comment Preview

Your name will appear as username

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href=""> <b> <em> <strong> <i> <blockquote>