SHANGHAI, May 23 -- Domestic audiences will have to watch a shorter version of "Pirates of the Caribbean III" as 20 minutes of scenes have been cut for its Chinese mainland debut on June 12, nearly one month after its global premiere.

China's film watchdog didn't approve "Pirates of the Caribbean II" for showing in China last year because the plot involved ghosts. However, the third episode -- "At World's End" – was approved after 20-minutes was cut.

Along with the familiar western pirates, a Chinese sea bandit has been introduced into the third installment of the mega-hit series.

Captain Sao Feng - played by Hong Kong star Chow Yun-fat - is a key figure in saving Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) from the world of the dead.

The first two "Pirates of the Caribbean" installments both had top box office success and took about US$170 million around the world.

However, the first "Pirate" installment hit the rocks on the Chinese mainland, taking only 27 million yuan (US$3.5 million).

Johnny Depp, who has played three journeys as Captain Jack Sparrow in the series, said today that he would consider taking the oddball character out for one more spin.

"It's been a great experience," Depp said before the Tokyo premiere today. "Trying to discover who Captain Jack was, getting slapped around by the Disney people, it was all fun."