China passes on 'Rush Hour 3,' report says censors worried about Chinese gangsters

HONG KONG (AP) - Jackie Chan's new action comedy "Rush Hour 3" won't be shown in China, an executive at the country's leading film importer said Tuesday, amid a report officials were concerned about scenes involving Chinese gangsters.

"We think the market for the movie is relatively weak," said Xiao Ping, a vice president at state-run China Film Group's import and export arm.

China limits the number of Hollywood films it imports each year, and Ping said "Rush Hour 3" was up against some tough competition.

China has already imported several Hollywood blockbusters, including "Transformers," "Spider-Man 3" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End."

But Hollywood trade publication Variety reported on its Asian website Tuesday that Chinese officials believe "Rush Hour 3," which features Chan and Chris Tucker combating Chinese gangsters in Paris, is "fundamentally anti-Chinese."

The "Rush Hour" series revolves around the racial humour derived from the pairing of a Chinese (Chan) and an African-American (Tucker) police officer.

China's Film Bureau often asks foreign filmmakers to edit scenes they consider offensive. Censors recently cut scenes of Chow Yun-fat depicted as a bald, scarred pirate in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," saying the images insulted China's people, state media reported.

The Chinese government carefully screens foreign media content and allows in only about 20 foreign films a year.

Variety said Chinese officials won't offer filmmakers a chance to edit "Rush Hour 3."

Asked if film executives were concerned about scenes of Chinese gangsters in "Rush Hour 3," China Film Group's Xiao said she didn't know.

Chan's JC Group owns the distribution rights to "Rush Hour 3" in Hong Kong and China. JC Group Senior Vice President Solon So said Tuesday New Line Cinema was in charge of distributing the movie and he did not know its status in China.

New Line Cinema said it had no comment.

"Rush Hour 3" is scheduled to be released in the U.S. on Aug. 10.

The loss of the China market, however, isn't a major blow to the filmmakers of "Rush Hour 3." Chinese box office income remains much smaller than in the U.S. A movie that makes tens of millions of U.S. dollars in China can be considered a hit, while a U.S. box office winners can make hundreds of millions.