Deadpool And Wolverine To Release In China On THIS Date With Censorship Cuts

Beijing's film regulators have approved the release of the highly anticipated Deadpool and Wolverine, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, for simultaneous release in China and North America on July 26. This is the first time a film from the superhero franchise has been permitted to launch concurrently in both regions. Disney announced this milestone on Monday via Marvel's Chinese social media accounts, thrilling fans.

Deadpool and Wolverine to release in China

The announcement is particularly surprising given that the third installment of the franchise received an 'R' rating just last week. The original Deadpool (2016) was banned in China due to its graphic content, and Deadpool 2 (2018) was only shown after being edited into a PG-13 version titled Once Upon a Deadpool. Despite these modifications, Deadpool 2 still grossed $42 million in China.

There has been no official word on potential censorship for Deadpool and Wolverine, but given China's strict content regulations, it's likely the film's "strong bloody violence and language throughout, gore, and sexual references" will be edited. Fans of the franchise are anticipating adjustments to the movie’s explicit content.

Deadpool and Wolverine to be one of the biggest opener of 2024?

Following the success of Inside Out 2, Deadpool and Wolverine is expected to be one of the biggest openings of the year. Trade experts are optimistic about the film's potential to revive enthusiasm for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in China. Hollywood blockbusters have struggled to regain their pre-pandemic box office success in the country. Even top titles like Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and Kung Fu Panda 4 have underperformed compared to their late-2010s counterparts.

Marvel has faced significant challenges in China. Several MCU releases were barred during the pandemic due to health measures and suspected political issues. Although Marvel films began returning to Chinese theaters last year, none have surpassed the $100 million mark—a milestone regularly achieved before the pandemic. The last MCU film to do so was Spider-Man: Far From Home, which earned $199 million in mid-2019.