It's Unlikely SUICIDE SQUAD Will Be Released In China
Well, Suicide Squad's climb to that rumored $750-800M break-even marker may have just gotten that much harder as it's looking less and less likely that the David Ayer-directed supervillain film, which stars Will Smith & Margot Robbie, will be approved for release in China.
After a lengthy wait, the third installment in DC Films' Extended Universe - Suicide Squad - has finally arrived, but it's starting to look like a major box office market may miss out on the escapades of Task Force X.
While a final decision has not been made, The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that it's looking increasingly unlikely that the David Ayer-directed supervillain film will receive approval from officials for a release in China.
If it is denied, it'll certainly be a disappointing turn of events for the Warner Bros. tentpole, but it can't be seen as a complete surprise considering that the film had yet to receive an official release date from the China Film Group, which typically sets release dates for major foreign releases at least two months in advance. WB declined comment on the matter, but a Chinese executive told THR's sources that: "They think this is not a good film to release in China."
20th Century Fox's mega-blockbuster Deadpool faced a similar hurdle back in February, and ultimately wasn't released in China due to its intense violence and graphic language. However, thanks to widespread critical acclaim, the Ryan Reynolds-starrer managed to persevere and collected over $782 million worldwide by the end of its theatrical run. Suicide Squad, despite the abysmal critical reception, is currently on pace to shatter August box office records, but whether or not the film will have the legs to match Deadpool's (maximum) effort is yet-to-be seen. Also, without a release in China, it'll be quite an uphill battle to reach that estimated break-even number of $750-800 million.
Comic book movies tend to perform extremely well in China. For comparison's sake, Marvel's Captain America: Civil War grossed over $190 million there back in early May, Bryan Singer's X-Men: Apocalypse brought home over $120 million, and Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice grossed nearly $96 million in China back in March.
So, what do you guys think? Sound off with your thoughts below!
It feels good to be bad… Assemble a team of the world’s most dangerous, incarcerated Super Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government’s disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity. U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do. However, once they realize they weren’t picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it’s every man for himself?
Suicide Squad features:
Director: David Ayer
Will Smith as Floyd Lawton/Deadshot
Jared Leto as The Joker
Margot Robbie as Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn
Viola Davis as Amanda Waller
Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flagg
Jai Courtney as George "Digger" Harkness/Captain Boomerang
Cara Delevingne as June Moone/Enchantress
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Waylon Jones/Killer Croc
Jay Hernandez as Chato Santana/El Diablo
Adam Beach as Christopher Weiss/Slipknot
Karen Fukuhara as Tatsu Yamashiro/Katana
Jim Parrack as Jonny Frost/Psuedo Joker
Corina Calderon as Grace
Ike Barinholtz as Griggs
Common as Monster T
Scott Eastwood as Lt. GQ Edwards
Alex Meraz as Gomez
David Harbour as Dexter Tolliver
Corina Calderon as Grace
Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash
Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman
Suicide Squad is out in theaters everywhere NOW!