Tarantino's 'Django' yanked from Chinese theaters the day of release

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BEIJING, April 11 (UPI) -- Quentin Tarantino's bloody revenge western "Django Unchained" was abruptly pulled from Chinese cinemas the day of its release, The Hollywood Reporter said.

The "Kill Bill," "Pulp Fiction" and "Reservoir Dogs" auteur had toned down the color and amount of blood in "Django" to adhere to China's strict government guidelines regarding appropriate entertainment.

However, theater operators suspended screenings Thursday, citing technical issues as the reason.

"Django" would have been the first of Tarantino's films to officially open in the country.

A Sony China representative declined to comment to The Hollywood Reporter on the film's future in Chinese theaters.

Set shortly before the American civil war, the film stars Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kerry Washington. Tarantino earned an Oscar for writing "Django" while Waltz won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.