BEIJING (AFP) — The release of the US box office hit "Kung Fu Panda" has been postponed in southwest China due to the magnitude-8.0 quake that last month devastated much of the region, state press reported Friday.
The animated film made by Dreamworks premiered in China on Friday, but its release was postponed in Sichuan province, home to the famous Wolong Panda Breeding Centre near the epicentre of the May 12 quake, the Beijing News said.
The paper cited an official from the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television as saying that the postponement was made in an effort to "appease the survivors" of the earthquake.
It appeared that the problem was launching a comedy just weeks after a tragedy in which about 70,000 people were confirmed killed.
Chinese officials could not be reached when AFP called Friday for details on why the film was postponed.
The Wolong breeding centre was badly damaged by the earthquake and has already sent several of its pandas to other breeding centres. Due to the damage, the centre might not be rebuilt in the same locale.
The release of the film has also resulted in some angry cries for a boycott from Chinese web surfers, who accuse Hollywood of seeking to profit from Chinese culture.
Hollywood "was seeking to exploit China's national treasure (the panda) and its martial arts... they glare like tigers eyeing China's money pouch," artist Zhao Bandi, the leader of the boycott campaign, said in a web posting.
But he admitted that he had not seen the film.
While many postings both praised and criticised the film, many others said there was no reason to boycott it.
"Kung Fu Panda" reeled in 94.5 million dollars at US box office during its first two weeks.
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