BEIJING, April 23 -- The third installment of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series, whose cast includes Hong Kong film star Chow Yun-fat, has been approved by the Chinese film authorities and will go on general release this summer.

    "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" was bought by the China Film Group Corporation in early April.

    It has been ratified for general release on the mainland, after the editing of several scenes in response to a request by the State Administration of Film Radio and Television (SAFRT).

    The movie is reportedly scheduled to hit theaters in June, since "Spider-man 3" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (TMNT) have taken up May's schedule.

    Previously the Chow's role in the film - a cunning baldheaded Chinese pirate Sao Feng - had been criticised.

    The first installment of the series, "The Curse of the Black Pearl," was introduced to Chinese audiences in 2003. But the second, "Dead Man's Chest," was banned on the mainland because there were "too many horrific figures and plots," film authorities said.

(Source: Shenzhen Daily/Agencies)