Chinese moviegoers are likely to catch the latest installment in the Spider-Man series before their peers in the United States. Spider-Man 3 recently passed examination by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. It is slated to open in movie theaters on the Chinese mainland on May 1, but won't be released in the United States until May 4.

Lead actor Tobey Maguire and actress Kirsten Dunst are set to attend the world premiere ceremony in Tokyo on April 16. Sources from the distribution company, Columbia Pictures, say they are working to incorporate a tour of the Chinese mainland into the stars' itinerary. Spider-Man was a huge hit in 2002. Columbia Pictures expect to make 100 million yuan at the box office in China with their latest film.

(China Daily 03/16/2007 page3)