Despite its gay story line, the Rami Malek-starring biopic about Queen is expected to hit limited theaters in mid-March with hopes that it will get a nationwide launch.
- February 28, 2019
AceShowbiz - Queen biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody" has scored a surprise release in China, despite the film's gay story line.
Many industry experts expected censors to snub the film, starring Oscar winner Rami Malek as late rocker Freddie Mercury, because it follows the singer's homosexual life, but film bosses seem keen to show the movie.
Chinese movie chiefs have a history of blocking western movies featuring gay characters and themes.
The film is expected to hit cinemas in the country in mid-March but exact dates have yet to be confirmed, and sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that at least a minute will be cut from the film, removing drug use scenes and kisses between Malek's Mercury and other male characters.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" will open on limited release, but if film fans in China like it the nation's Film Bureau bosses are planning to launch it nationwide, according to insiders.
The film picked up four Academy Awards at the Oscars on Sunday, February 24, including a Best Actor honour for Malek, and both Film Editing and Sound Editing prizes.
The biopic is having a great week - "Bohemian Rhapsody" has been named the U.K.'s fastest-selling digital download film ever, selling more in its first eight days on release than last year's "Avengers: Infinity War", according to the Official Charts Company compilers.
Almost 265,000 digital copies have been sold, taking the movie to the top of the charts.
Last summer's Avengers blockbuster notched up almost 253,000 digital downloads over the same time frame.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" will be released on physical formats on March 4.
