China Cancels Theatrical Release of Tarantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

A week before its planned arrival, China has decided not to release Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in theaters.

The directors ode to late-Sixties Hollywood would have marked the first time a non-edited Tarantino film received a widespread release in China, where Tarantinos violent films dont make it past the countrys strict censors. Additionally, Variety reports that Tarantino was steadfast in his refusal to edit the film in an effort to placate Chinese censors.

While no explanation has been given for halting the movies release by China, a source told The Hollywood Reporter that it was put on hold after Shannon Lee, Bruce Lees daughter, filed a complaint to Chinas National Film Administration due to the portrayal of her late father as arrogant and boastful.

Despite Lees complaint, Tarantino stood by his depiction of the Fist of Fury star telling a Moscow press conference, Bruce Lee was kind of an arrogant guy. The way he was talking, I didnt just make a lot of that up.

The Lee in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, portrayed by Mike Moh, is cocky and asserts he could have crippled Muhammad Ali in a fight. After his claim, Pitts character Cliff Booth, a stuntman and veteran, have a friendly fight. While theres no defined winner, Pitt seems to have taken the lead by the end after throwing Lee into the side of a car.

The movie would have been Tarantinos first release in China and was expected to help worldwide box office profits earn over $400 million. The wrinkle in the movies release plan hit both Sony Pictures and Once Upon a Time in Hollywoods Chinese financier, Beijing-based Bona Film Group.

Tarantino was previously challenged by China with the release of his 2012 film Django Unchained, ultimately deciding to eliminate graphic scenes of violence and nudity after the film was pulled. When it finally got a re-release in China, it flopped, making $2.7 million at the box office.