Adam Sandler's latest movie, "Pixels," was reported to have been edited to avoid insulting China and losing a huge market for the film. In the original script, among the world's monuments blasted by aliens was the Great Wall, but was cut in the final version.
Sony Pictures Entertainment released "Pixels" without the scene of the Great Wall destruction, which was originally included in the 2013 script. According to Reuters, Sony was anxious for the Chinese government to approve the movie for release in China so they made it agreeable to the second biggest film market in the world.
The scene involved blasting a hole on the Great Wall, which should not be an issue if it is a global incident. However, the movie also made references to a "communist-conspiracy brother" who is also a hacker.
These were cut from the final version because they "will not benefit the China release at all," Sony China's chief representative Li Chow said in an email. The series of emails between Sony and Li Chow, discussing "Pixels" scenes involving China, was released publicly by WikiLeaks.
The decision to cut the scenes, fans believe, was reminiscent of the case with Sony's political satire "The Interview," which depicted North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's assassination. The film earned threats made to movie theaters, which brought Sony to halt its release. This time, to capitalize on the Chinese market, Sony made its own adjustments, The Improper reported.
The movie shows just the Taj Mahal and Manhattan being destroyed by aliens who looked like the video game characters in the 1980s. The Great Wall, apparently, was spared.
"Pixels" premiered on July 24.