Mar 7, 2004 / 22:00 pm
20th Century Fox has decided to move up the premier of “The Passion of the Christ” in Latin America due to pirating of the film, which has resulted in the spread of thousands of unauthorized, low-quality copies in the region.
Sources with Fox told reporters that the film will premier March 18 in Peru, Chile, Central America and Ecuador. A day after, on March 19, it will premier in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico and Uruguay.
Release dates in other countries will soon be announced.
“Mel Gibson always wanted a more simultaneous release. In light of the film’s success, he has instructed Icon Productions to ask the responsible parties in Latin America to move the release up,” a Fox source told the Chilean press.