Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: Quentin Tarantino refuses to cut Bruce Lee scene for China release

Film’s Chinese release was cancelled this week following intervention from Lee’s daughter

Adam White
Saturday 19 October 2019 09:09 BST
Comments
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood trailer

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Quentin Tarantino has refused to make requested cuts to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood to appease Chinese film authorities, leaving its release in the country in limbo.

Yesterday (18 October), it was reported that China’s National Film Administration had abruptly cancelled the release of Tarantino’s film following an appeal by Bruce Lee’s daughter.

Shannon Lee has been a vocal critic of the film’s depiction of her father, arguing in July that the film presents him as an “arrogant a**hole who was full of hot air”.

Despite claims that Tarantino was “frantically working” with the film’s Chinese distributor to make the required cuts for release, the Hollywood Reporter now states that the filmmaker is “taking a take-it-or-leave-it stance” over his movie.

The report additionally claims that Tarantino’s decision is partly driven by the National Film Administration’s refusal to explicitly explain to him the reasons behind the film’s pulled release

A source told the Hollywood Reporter that while Lee had appealed to the Administration about the scene depicting her father, there may also have been separate concerns within the Administration about the levels of violence in the film.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was scheduled for Chinese release on 25 October, though it is unlikely that any agreement over a new edit will be made in time to keep the date.

It would have been the first Tarantino film to receive a wide cinematic release in the country.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in