Beijing has declared January 9, 2016, as the release date for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” reports China Cheat Sheets.
But with China boasting some 650 million Internet users, fans will have to be mindful of trolls unleashing spoilers on social media.
The official rationale behind Beijing’s strict regulation of the domestic and foreign film industry within its borders, while not surprising, is not publicly explained.
Some believe the government chose to release the latest Star Wars installment in 2016 because the country has already met a 2015 foreign film quota. The government allows only a handful of foreign films to run on Chinese screens, regulating the industry in favor of domestic films.
Nonetheless, American films are a big deal in China.
Last year, the Vin Diesel action movie “Furious 7” showed a higher profit in the Chinese market than in the U.S.
In the same way that the original Star Wars movie kicked off a cinematic hegemony, Disney is seeking a new hope in releasing the long-awaited blockbuster to Chinese screens. The last three Star Wars prequels were not so well-received in China.
Interestingly, the three original Star Wars films, wildly celebrated in China, were released shortly after the end of Mao’s Cultural Revolution, when cultural influences from the West had been more heavily suppressed.
But China has many fans who are as dedicated to the series as their counterparts in the land of the free. So, to be fair to them, or just those Chinese citizens waiting patiently for their chance to see a fun big-budget action flick, remember to keep your social media commenting down to a dull roar.
Enjoy the ride, venture to a galaxy far, far away this weekend, and keep the details to yourself.
