Officials in the country said the move was to make way for local Chinese films to be shown during the peak summer viewing period. But others say the ban may have been implemented because of the religious content of the film. The film, starring Tom Hanks, has already been banned in Fiji, Pakistan and some Indian states. It is based on Dan Brown`s best-selling novel that claims Jesus married Mary Magdalene and that their descendants survive today. Since it was released in China last month, the film has made 104 million yuan (£7m) and was on its way to becoming one of the most successful foreign films to be released in China. It initailly escaped the censor`s cuts and made its debut in Beijing six hours ahead of the film`s official premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.