Paramount partners with China on film

Viacom’s (VIAB.NASDAQ) Paramount Pictures plans to produce one of its upcoming blockbusters in China while also tweaking parts of an in-production zombie-themed film in order to avoid offending Chinese censors, The Wall Street Journal reported. Paramount said it reached a deal with China’s state-owned China Movie Channel and video-on-demand service Jiaflix. China Movie Channel will support the production of the film through the casting of local actors and the selection of filming locations. A statement from Paramount said the deal has the blessing of State Administration of Radio Film and Television vice minister Tong Gang. As this deal was announced, Hollywood rumor site TheWrap.com reported that Paramount altered the plot of the upcoming zombie film “World War Z” by removing mention of China as the source of a zombie virus outbreak.