In the big-screen horror film Together starring Dave Franco and Alison Brie, a same-sex wedding scene involving two men was digitally altered for Chinese audiences by changing the face of one of the men to that of a woman.
Together was released in North America on August 26, 2025 to mostly positive reviews, earning a 90 percent positive rating on RottenTomatoes.com. The film follows a heterosexual couple, Tim and Millie, who move to the country and encounter a mysterious force that triggers horrific changes in their bodies. Filmed in Victoria, Australia, it was directed by Australian director Michael Shanks.
Chinese audiences did not notice the alteration until a side-by-side comparison was posted on social media. One social media user wrote, "AI face-swapping is really unacceptable – it completely changes the original creative vision." Another added, “That’s great! We can re-release Brokeback Mountain, God's Own Country, Lan Yu, and Happy Together, and use AI to remake them into heterosexual romances with just one click. That’s faster and better than taking Chinese medicine! We're so beautiful here! We have hope!"
The China Digital Times also reported that some sex scenes were cut from the theatrical version of Together.
Although homosexuality has been decriminalized in China, same-sex relationships are not legally recognized. In September 2021, the Chinese government banned effeminate men from appearing on television.
What do you think about the use of AI in changing the gender of people in films for foreign audiences? ~Alexandra Heilbron