A watered-down sequel to “Deadpool” — the 2016 Marvel film about a crude, sword-slinging antihero of the same name — will soon premiere in China, according to a Monday announcement from the film’s distributor, Twentieth Century Fox.
A trailer for “Deadpool: I Love My Family” features Ryan Reynolds’ black-and-red character — whom Chinese fans call “Jian Jian,” meaning “bitchy,” for his irreverent and snarky humor — saying, “Yes, I know it’s taken a while, but I’m finally coming to China!” The post that includes the trailer also gives Jan. 25 as the date of the China premiere.
The R-rated “Deadpool” franchise has not made it to theaters on the Chinese mainland. South Korea held the worldwide premiere of “Deadpool 2” eight months ago, and a PG-13 version of that film — titled “Once Upon a Deadpool” and believed to be the same as or similar to the Chinese release — was screened for U.S. audiences in December.
The China Film Bureau rigorously screens foreign movies for objectionable content, approving only a few dozen for release each year. With a strict content-policing mechanism already in place, the country has yet to introduce its own film rating system. (Image: @电影X战警 on Weibo)