The U.S. film "Pearl Harbor" is likely to be released in Japan with some lines cut for fear they might stir controversy among Japanese, a British daily reported Tuesday.
The Walt Disney war movie is expected to ax a line by British actress Kate Beckinsale, "Telling how the United States bounced back from the cowardly Japanese raid on the American fleet at Pearl Harbor to win the war," the Sun reported.
Beckinsale, 27, plays a leading role in the film.
The paper quoted sources from the film company as saying, "We've tried very hard not to portray the Japanese in a very bad light."
The paper hinted that the film company considered possible adverse effects on Japan's huge market, citing the sources as saying Japan "accounted for 20 percent of profits for 'Titanic.' "
The paper said the company will also release the film in Germany with the controversial line trimmed.
It said, however, that few Germans appear in the film.
"Pearl Harbor" is a story of love and friendship among youths in Hawaii during World War II. It is expected to be released in Japan in July.