A new Australian horror film is generating headlines not just for its chilling plot, but for what appears to be a disturbing case of censorship in its Chinese release.
The film, “Together,” directed by Australian filmmaker Michael Shanks and starring real-life couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco, reportedly underwent significant alterations before its theatrical release in China. According to multiple viewer reports and circulating comparison images online, a gay character in the original version of the film appears to have been replaced with a female character in the Chinese version, effectively removing a same-sex relationship from the story entirely.
What makes the change even more unsettling to some is the method allegedly used: artificial intelligence.
A Queer Character Disappears
Set in rural Australia, Together follows a couple who trade the stress of city living for a quieter life in the country, only to encounter a mysterious force that begins to alter their bodies and identities. The original cut includes a supporting male character involved in a same-sex relationship, a detail confirmed by early press screenings and interviews with the filmmakers.
However, when the film debuted in Chinese theaters earlier this month, local viewers noticed that this male character had seemingly been replaced by a woman. The change transformed what had been a queer relationship into a heterosexual one. Side-by-side screenshots of the international and Chinese versions have since gone viral on Chinese and Western social media platforms.
Sources close to the film’s distribution suggest that the alteration may have been accomplished using artificial intelligence, a method that allows for facial mapping, voice cloning, and even deepfake-style replacements of actors and dialogue. While these tools are often marketed for localization and dubbing, their use in Together raises concerns about how they might be weaponized for ideological censorship.
No Stranger to Queer Censorship
This is far from the first time China has altered international films to remove LGBTQ+ content. Despite the fact that homosexuality is legal in China, depictions of same-sex relationships remain heavily censored in mainstream media under government guidelines promoting so-called “family values” and discouraging “abnormal sexual relationships.”
In 2018, Bohemian Rhapsody was released in China with most references to Freddie Mercury’s bisexuality removed, along with any scenes hinting at same-sex intimacy. Similarly, Dumbledore’s sexuality was cut from Chinese versions of the Fantastic Beasts films, and multiple episodes of the TV series Friends were edited to eliminate LGBTQ+ characters and references.
The alleged use of AI in Together, however, marks a troubling evolution in the censorship process, suggesting studios or regulators may no longer be content to simply trim scenes, but instead actively re-engineer narratives using advanced technology.
Hollywood’s Complicity?
As of publication, Shanks, Brie, Franco, or the production company behind Together have not publicly commented on the Chinese version of the film or confirmed whether they authorized the changes made. The Chinese distributor has also not issued a statement.
However, the incident has reignited ongoing discussions about the film industry’s willingness to comply with censorship in global markets, particularly China, which remains one of the most lucrative box office regions in the world.
Critics have long accused Hollywood studios of sacrificing queer visibility and progressive narratives in order to gain access to the Chinese market. That compromise now appears to extend beyond deleted scenes—venturing into the realm of AI-powered erasure.
The Future of Queer Representation
Together may be a horror film, but for many queer viewers, the real fear lies in the growing normalization of invisibility. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the entertainment industry, advocates warn that its potential for reinforcing state-sponsored homophobia and censorship should not be underestimated.
