The third installment in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, titled “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” is finally coming out in cinemas, and fans of the franchise are super excited. Unfortunately, fans living in China would not be getting the whole experience of the movie as the Chinese film board only shows a censored version.
The Chinese censored version erases all hints of Dumbledore’s homosexual orientation and previous gay relationships. With the US version coming out on April 15th, many are criticizing the Chinese film board’s decision.
This is also not the first time the country’s film censorship body and the regulatory board have edited out hints of homosexuality from a film despite legalizing it. Read on to learn more about the censorship and the highly anticipated movie.
Warner Bros. Edited Six Seconds Out Of ‘Fantastic Beasts” Final Cut
MEGAAccording to reports, the Chinese film board requested that Warner Bros censor and edit out all references to Dumbledore’s previous gay relationships in the Fantastic Beasts movie.
These references included six seconds of the film’s final cut, which included dialogue that revealed the two male leads, Dumbledore (played by Jude Law) and Gellert Grindelwald (played by Mads Mikkelsen), had a romantic relationship in the past.
According to Variety, the dialogue was primarily Dumbledore’s, in which he said, “because I was in love with you” and “the summer Gellert and I fell in love,” referencing that he and Grindelwald once had a relationship.
Warner Bros Made A Statement About The Cut
In its press statement to Variety, Warner Bros said, “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.”
The statement continued with, “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.”
It concluded with, “As a studio, we’re committed to safeguarding the integrity of every film we release, and that extends to circumstances that necessitate making nuanced cuts in order to respond sensitively to a variety of in-market factors….”
‘Fantastic Beasts: Secrets Of Dumbledore’ Was A Box Office Hit In China
Despite the six-second censorship, “Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore” was an immediate box office hit in China. According to The Hollywood Reporter, it earned almost $10 million over its opening weekend.
The film is the third installment in the Fantastic Beasts franchise and the first in the series to receive a censorship request from China. However, it is not the first time these censors have impacted popular and high-profile Hollywood movies.
In 2019, China hit the front page when it famously censored and edited all hints of Freddie Mercury’s homosexuality in the biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody.” This has been the case since 2016, with all movies containing what China refers to as “abnormal sexual relationships and sexual behavior” requiring censorship.
This Film Finally Confirms Dumbledore’s Sexuality
MEGADumbledore’s sexuality has never exactly been a secret to Harry Potter fans for many years. It was also hinted severally in the first two films in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, but this is the first film that officially acknowledges it on screen.
In 2007, after she published the final book in the Harry Potter series, titled “Deathly Hallows,” author J.K Rowling confirmed Dumbledore’s sexuality and revealed that he and his childhood friend, Grindelwald had a romantic affair when they were younger before Grindelwald turned over to the dark side.
At the time, Rowling told a young fan, “Dumbledore is gay, actually. I would have told you earlier if I knew it would make you so happy.” She also revealed that she once had to make a note in the script of a Harry Potter film reminding the scriptwriter that Dumbledore is gay and could not say lines referencing him as a straight man.
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