Although Chinese website Mtime managed to secure the China release date of the second part of the "Hunger Games" franchise, "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1,″ which it publicized in December, the Lionsgate studio only confirmed Feb. 8, 2015, on Tuesday.
The China launch was initially set for November, followed by January, and according to Forbes' Scott Mendelson, the reason for the stuttered, three-month delay has never been made clear.
Mendelson mentioned the possibility that Lionsgate, the major American studio that owns the film trilogy, is seeking to reap the most revenue possible from the world's second-largest film marketplace. So far, "Mockingjay" is responsible for approximately $325 million is U.S. box office sales, and has exceeded that figure by around $50 million elsewhere.
Following the trend set by "Robocop," which generated $50 million in Chinese ticket stubs, and "Transcendence," which made $20 million, "Mockingjay" will be released in both 2D and 3D versions in China's cinemas. Not only is this the first time that the franchise will be seen in 3D in China, but it is also unprecedented internationally.
Mendelson writes that he "always appreciated" that the franchise has attained success "without the 3D upcharge," and his perspective is supported by the expectation that "Mockingjay - Part 1" will become the first movie to top the American box office in a given year without an IMAX or 3D enhancement since 2006.
In terms of China next month, "Mockingjay - Part 1" will be brought into the country by China Film Group, who will work in partnership with Huaxia Film Distribution and Lionsgate's Beijing-based partner, Talent International Film Co. Ltd., to distribute the motion picture.
As a further indication of the importance of the Chinese market, lead actress Jennifer Lawrence recorded a special greeting for fans that will form part of the promotional package, which includes the Chinese trailer that has already been released.