Bohemian Rhapsody to be released in China—without queer content

Oscar-winning Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody will reportedly be shown in China, in a censored release.

Key moments making Mercury’s bisexuality explicit will be cut from the film, including intimate kisses between Rami Malek’s Mercury and other men, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Portrayals of drug use will also reportedly be censored when the film is released in mid-March, just weeks after it won four Oscars, including a best actor award for Malek.

Bohemian Rhapsody success may lead to wider China release

The film’s limited release is down to the National Alliance of Arthouse Cinemas, which is partly funded by the state-supported China Film Archive.

And if audiences come to see Bohemian Rhapsody in large enough numbers, other cinemas may pick it up for wider release.

Rami Malek picks up his best actor Oscar for Bohemian Rhapsody (Kevin Winter/Getty)

China has censored gay content from films before Bohemian Rhapsody

China has a history of cutting queer scenes from films.

In 2017, authorities in the country removed a gay kiss between two characters played by Michael Fassbender from Ridley Scott’s Alien Covenant.

Scenes including gay sex were also cut from Cloud Atlas, a film directed by the transgender Wachowski sisters and starring Halle Berry and Tom Hanks, when it was released in 2013.

Iconic gay love story Brokeback Mountain was banned entirely in 2006.

Bohemian Rhapsody news comes after Rami Malek’s Oscar speech is censored in China

A Chinese broadcast of Malek’s Oscar speech has been criticised this week for translating “gay man” to “special group” in its subtitles.