Modelli di truppe in Star Wars posano con i clienti durante l'undicesimo China International Comics and Games Expo (CCG Expo 2015) in Cina a Shanghai, 9 Luglio
Models of troops in Star Wars pose with customers during the 11th China International Comics and Games Expo (CCG Expo 2015) in Shanghai, China, 9 July 2015. Chen Fang couldn't wait to see the new "Star Wars" movieªuntil, that is, he learned that the main star isn¯t a gorilla. His confusion stems from the fact that, in Chinese, "Stars Wars" sounds a little like the name of the 2014 film "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes." Once he learned it wasn't an "Apes" sequel, Mr. Chen lost interest. "Star Wars?" said the puzzled 27-year-old engineer. "Isn't that very old?" "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is hotly anticipated in the U.S., where the franchise's iconic status has driven record-breaking advanced ticket sales ahead of a Dec. 17 release. But in the world's most populous country, where it will hit theaters Jan. 9, few people know Luke from Leia from Lando. That's because the "Star Wars" phenomenon predates China's modern movie market. When Luke Skywalker first appeared on U.S. movie screens in 1977, China had just emerged from the Cultural Revolutionªwhich had suppressed art as entertainment. The film's 1999, 2002 and 2005 prequels grossed a total of $18.7 million in a time when only a small number of Chinese went to the movies.
