The award-winning Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” is getting a surprise release in selected theaters in China, but reports suggest that all content that depicts homosexuality will be cut.
The film which stars Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the British rock band Queen, received its permission on Wednesday, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Its approval came as a surprise to some considering China’s stance on showing content that features gay characters.
This decision came at the same time as viewers expressed anger after authorities censored the words “gay man” in Malek’s Oscars acceptance speech for winning the Best Actor award.
Subscribe to
NextShark's Newsletter
A daily dose of Asian America's essential stories, in under 5 minutes.
Get our collection of Asian America's most essential stories to your inbox daily for free.
Unsure? Check out our Newsletter Archive.
While the film has yet to receive a release date, sources have told THR that “Bohemian Rhapsody” is being expected to open in theaters sometime in mid-March. However, with its approval comes with several conditions.
The source also added that a minute worth of cuts will be made to the movie, particularly scenes showing drug use as well as homosexuality, THR continued.
The film is reportedly scheduled to be released in limited theaters in China, courtesy of the National Alliance of Arthouse Cinemas (NAAC), as said in the report.
The NAAC, which was created in 2016 as an effort to cultivate art cinema, only extends to 1,200 theaters in China – as opposed to the large number of cinemas in the country that is believed to be more than 50,000.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” will only be released in China on a limited-time as a compromise from the country’s Film bureau; however, if it proves to be successful, the movie could be picked up for a wider-release.
Featured image screenshot via YouTube / 20th Century Fox
