Warner Bros studio announced that is has cancelled plans to release The Dark Knight in China due to sensitive cultural material in the film.

"Based on a number of pre-release conditions that are being attached to The Dark Knight, as well as cultural sensitivities to some elements of the film, we have opted to forego a theatrical release of the film in China," Warner Bros said in a statement.

It is not clear what “cultural sensitivities” were at issue, but the film does feature some intense action scenes set in Hong Kong as Batman, played by Christian Bale, apprehends a Chinese money-launderer.

The Dark Knight was released in July, and is currently the top–grossing film of the year with $996.9 million worldwide box office receipts, which includes $7.5 million in ticket sales in Hong Kong, according to Box Office Mojo.

The film features the late actor, Heath Ledger’s final performance as Batman’s enemy, The Joker, which has already earned a nomination for the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.

In recent years other films, including Brokeback Mountain (2005), which also stars Ledger, and Memoirs of Geisha (2006), have been banned from release in China for similar cultural reasons.

 —Jessica Delli Santi