The upcoming World of Warcraft (WoW) movie will be released in Chinese theatres on June 8, two days before it begins showing on American screens.

Directed by Duncan Jones, the cast includes Daniel Wu, a popular actor based in Hong Kong. Wu plays an evil orc named Gul'dan.

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WoW the game first surfaced in China in 2005, overcoming governmental regulations to become massively popular there.

In China, the game's graphics are altered to soften the violent imagery. The government also required that the game be put on a timer so that people would not become addicted to playing.

Still, half of the world's WoW players live in China, making it an ideal market for the movie.

Another reason for the early release in China is the Dragon Boat Festival, which runs from June 9 to 11. According to China Daily, last year during Dragon Boat Festival the Chinese box office sales were up 42% from the previous year.

The timing of the release also coincides with the end of high school exams in China.

Money is yet another factor, as Chinese company Dalian Wanda has a stake in the film. Earlier this year, the conglomerate acquired a majority share of Legendary Entertainment, a studio involved with making the WoW movie.

Wu, who also stars in AMC's Badlands, is excited about his latest project. He said the fact that Jones is a WoW player comes across in the screenplay.

"He captured that essence of [the game] and I think that's what gamers are going to be most impressed by," Wu said in an interview with Den of Geek.

Though Wu does not play the game, he said his wife does, and that was a factor in his decision to audition for a part in the movie. "She forced me to," he said.

World of Warcraft is not the first Hollywood movie to open in China before the US. Last December, Point Break hit theaters in China three weeks prior to the film's release in the States.

TagsWorld of Warcraft, world of warcraft movie, china, Daniel Wu, Badlands, Dalian Wanda, Legendary Entertainment, Gul'dan, WoW