A controversy has erupted in the film industry after Chinese distributors used artificial intelligence to digitally alter a same-sex couple in the horror-romance film “Together,” transforming one male character into a woman to satisfy local censorship requirements.
The unauthorized editing sparked immediate backlash from Neon, the film’s global distributor, which acquired worldwide rights to the Dave Franco and Alison Brie project for $15 million at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
“Neon does not approve of Hishow’s unauthorized edit of the film and have demanded they cease distributing this altered version,”
the company declared Wednesday, marking a rare public confrontation between international distributors and Chinese censorship practices.
The AI manipulation specifically targeted a wedding sequence featuring two men, with sophisticated technology seamlessly replacing one groom’s face with that of a woman. Word of the digital deception began circulating on Chinese social media after audiences attended screenings, ultimately forcing the complete withdrawal of the film from Chinese theaters.
“Together,” written and directed by Australian filmmaker Michael Shanks, had opened in China on September 12 before being pulled entirely. The psychological thriller, which follows Franco and Brie as a couple encountering mysterious forces in the countryside, earned $21.2 million during its domestic run after opening to $6.7 million in the United States and Canada.
This incident highlights the complex relationship between Hollywood productions and China’s restrictive content policies. While China maintains no comprehensive guidelines regarding LGBTQ+ content, such material is consistently deemed sensitive and faces irregular but frequent removal. Same-sex themes have been technically prohibited from television and online platforms since 2017, though subtle content occasionally survives the censorship process.
The entertainment industry has long grappled with China’s editing demands. The Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” reportedly lost three minutes of content referencing Freddie Mercury‘s homosexuality and AIDS when it reached Chinese screens, despite earning $14 million locally as part of its $962 million global success.
Yet the situation remains paradoxical. Research from UCLA indicates that mainland Chinese respondents increasingly express favorable attitudes toward LGBTQ+ individuals, suggesting a disconnect between official policies and public sentiment. This growing acceptance has fueled demand for LGBTQ+-themed content, particularly among younger audiences and fans of “boys love” genre stories.
The inconsistency of Chinese censorship creates an unpredictable landscape for filmmakers and distributors. While same-sex moments in major productions like “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” and Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” reached Chinese screens unaltered, the critically acclaimed “Call Me by Your Name” was withdrawn from the Beijing International Film Festival despite developing a devoted Chinese following through unofficial channels.
For Chinese LGBTQ+ filmmakers, the restrictive environment has created significant challenges. Without access to commercial theaters or international festival circuits, explicitly LGBTQ+ Chinese productions remain confined to independent, low-budget work that struggles to match the polished aesthetics expected by international audiences.
Despite these obstacles, activists and filmmakers maintain that demand for authentic LGBTQ+ stories continues growing. The scarcity of such content has paradoxically increased attention for any productions that do emerge, creating opportunities for meaningful cultural dialogue even within constrained circumstances.
The “Together” controversy represents a new frontier in the ongoing tension between artistic integrity and market access, raising questions about the acceptable limits of content modification and the responsibility of international distributors to protect creative vision. As the Chinese market remains crucial for global box office success, the industry continues navigating the delicate balance between commercial interests and artistic authenticity.
The film’s status in the Chinese market remains uncertain, with industry observers watching closely to see whether this high-profile confrontation might influence future distribution strategies and censorship practices.