To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Not now
OK
Advert
Advert
Advert

China Has Censored Gay References In Fantastic Beasts 3

Emily Brown

Published 
| Last updated 

China Has Censored Gay References In Fantastic Beasts 3

Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros.

Warning: Contains Spoilers

China has censored references to same-sex romance in the latest Fantastic Beasts film, The Secrets of Dumbledore.

China surprised some film fans by announcing it would release the new title on 8 April, the same day as the film arrived in UK theatres and a full week ahead of its arrival in the US.

Advert

The country often has release dates later than the Western countries, but the immediate release of Fantastic Beasts has not come without some extra measure of control.

Mads Mikkelsen in Fantastic Beasts 3. Credit: Warner Bros.
Mads Mikkelsen in Fantastic Beasts 3. Credit: Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. confirmed cuts had been made from The Secrets of Dumbledore to allow the film to be released in China, specifically relating to lines of script which indicated a same-sex romance.

The lines concern lead characters Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) and Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen), and include comments like 'because I was in love with you' and 'the summer Gellert and I fell in love'.

Advert

Though these specific lines have been removed for audiences in China, the rest of the film remains intact and continues to indicate a close relationship between the two characters.

In a statement to news.com.au, Warner Bros. explained it is 'committed to safeguarding the integrity of every film' it releases, adding that incudes 'circumstances that necessitate making nuanced cuts in order to respond sensitively to a variety of in-market factors'.

Jude Law as Dumbledore in Fantastic Beasts 3. Credit: Warner Bros.
Jude Law as Dumbledore in Fantastic Beasts 3. Credit: Warner Bros.

“Our hope is to release our features worldwide as released by their creators but historically we have faced small edits made in local markets. In the case of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, a six-second cut was requested and Warner Bros accepted those changes to comply with local requirements but the spirit of the film remains intact.

Advert

“We want audiences everywhere in the world to see and enjoy this film, and it’s important to us that Chinese audiences have the opportunity to experience it as well, even with these minor edits," the studio said.

Less than 40 foreign films a year are released in China, with filmmakers encouraged to comply to editing requests in order to allow their titles to make the cut.

The latest instalment of the Fantastic Beasts franchise was released this month. Credit: Alamy/Warner Bros.
The latest instalment of the Fantastic Beasts franchise was released this month. Credit: Alamy/Warner Bros.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling announced Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore was gay in 2007, though the character was not explicitly gay in the books. His sexuality was hinted at in the first two Fantastic Beasts films, the first of which was released in 2016, but it wasn't until the release of The Secrets of Dumbledore that it was acknowledged on screen.

Advert

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the LGBT Foundation on 0345 3 30 30 30, 10am–6pm Monday to Friday, or email [email protected]

Topics: Film & TV, China, Warner Bros, LGBTQ, Fantastic Beasts 3

Emily Brown
More like this
Advert
Advert
Advert

Chosen for YouChosen for You

Celebrity

Bam Margera's brother puts out urgent call for his whereabouts and says they don't have much time

2 hours ago

Most Read StoriesMost Read

Scientists confirm some people are able to smell when rain is coming

2 days ago