Overview

• Pre-release screenings began on September 12, and viewers later shared side-by-side images showing a man’s face replaced with a woman’s in the scene.
• Neon demanded that local distributor Hishow withdraw the altered cut, and the planned wide release in China was paused and then pulled at Neon's request.
• Reports indicate AI face-replacement was likely used to alter the footage, while the China Film Administration has not responded to inquiries and it is unclear who ordered the change.
• The edited moment is tied to important story context, and coverage notes the switch made the film less clear to audiences.
• The incident aligns with a broader pattern of LGBTQ-related edits for China’s market, with past examples including Bohemian Rhapsody and lines removed from Fantastic Beasts.