Chinese censors have denied permission for “Deadpool” to screen in the world’s second-largest movie market due to violence, nudity and graphic language, according to local media reports.
Fox’s R-rated movie, based on the Marvel comic-book character, is set to open Feb. 12 in the U.S. and in many major international markets including Australia, France, Germany, Russia and the U.K.
Reps for Fox and Marvel had no comment Monday.
Ryan Reynolds, who portrayed the character in 2009’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” is starring. Tim Miller is directing the superhero film from a script by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.
Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller, Gina Carano and Brianna Hildebrand also star. Lauren Shuler Donner, Reynolds and Simon Kimburg are producing.
The talkative mercenary character, also known as Wade Wilson, was created by artist Rob Liefeld and writer Fabian Nicieza. He first appeared in print in 1991.
The movie’s origin story centers on Wilson being subjected to a rogue experiment in an effort to cure his cancer. The experiment leaves him with accelerated healing powers, disfigured skin, a dark sense of humor and an unstable mind — leading to Wilson trying to hunt down the man who botched the experiment.