It took some negotiations worthy of a Vulcan Ambassador but China has finally given permission for Universal’s “The Mummy: The Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” to be released in the very country it was shot in and a story that revolves around its founding Emperor Han. The feature film starring Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello, Michelle Yeoh and Luke Ford will be seen by its Chinese audience some time after the Olympic Games finish up on August 24, 2008, according to Variety Asia.
The changes in the film required by Chinese officials were so minor that cutting them didn’t impinge on the story outcome or the quality of the production. The cuts were made in order to make the film viewable by all age groups. One of China’s requirements for films of this type, if they are to be seen in that country, is that it must be viewable even by small children.
“We now have a certificate giving us permission to release the film in China and outside,” said Bill Kong, producer and Universal’s distributor in Hong Kong and China.
“The exact date is a matter of my commercial judgment,” Kong said. “The best date might be right after the Olympic Games. You can’t publicize or market a movie during the Games, as people’s attention will be elsewhere.”
“The Mummy: The Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” opens in other Asian territories such as South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore on July 31st. The film gets its U.S. premiere on August 1, 2008.
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