Disney, Universal films to screen in China despite trade dispute

China is keeping the door open for Hollywood movies, even with the ongoing trade dispute with the US.

- THOMAS BUCKLEY

Walt Disney won Beijing's approval to release a live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch and Pixar's animated feature Elio in Chinese cinemas, according to people familiar with the matter. A third Disney movie, the Thunderbolts superhero film from Marvel, opens in the country this week.

How To Train Your Dragon, from Universal Pictures, also won approval from the government-backed company that sanctions movies, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing nonpublic information. The studio expects to confirm a release date in the coming weeks.

The approvals suggest that, as major studios prepare to release their big-budget summer pictures, there's been no measurable pullback as a result of the trade tensions.