Gravity, the blockbusting space walk thriller starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, has cleared the necessary hurdles to be granted a theatrical release in China. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film will open in the lucrative but highly controlled territory in November.

China applies a quota to major Hollywood films – 34 are allowed in one year – though the fact that Gravity is a 3D will have helped ease its way. Added to which, the prominent placing of a Chinese character (and space station) in a helpful capacity may have overcome traditional objections to showing American achievements in space. (China is currently embarked on a major space programme which is seen as crucial in solidifying its superpower status.)

Gravity has so far stunned box office observers with its record-breaking haul in US cinemas – it currently stands at $122.3m (£76.5m), with a further $68m (£42.5m) from the 21 non-US territories it has so far been released in. Gravity could reasonably expect to add $60m-$70m (£37m-£44m) in China alone, so producers will be delighted at this development.

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