Russian film officials have blocked the release of Tom Hardy's new film, Child 44, in which he portrays a disgraced Soviet agent tracking down a serial child killer.

Culture Ministry bosses, who claim the movie distorts historical facts, have withdrawn plans for its release this weekend (17Apr15) after a preview raised concerns about Hardy's character and the plot, set in Stalin-era Russia.

A statement suggests the film's release in the run-up to the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two is "unacceptable".

Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky claims the movie depicts Russians as "physically and morally base sub-humans".