JUNGLE CRUISE Stars Dwayne Johnson And Jack Whitehall Discuss The Movie's Big Coming Out Scene

JUNGLE CRUISE Stars Dwayne Johnson And Jack Whitehall Discuss The Movie's Big Coming Out Scene

Jungle Cruise is now in theaters and streaming on Disney+'s Premier Access, and during the global press conference for the movie, Dwayne Johnson and Jack Whitehall addressed one of its most moving scenes.

By JoshWilding - Jul 30, 2021 06:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Disney

As you'll likely already know, Jungle Cruise makes history by featuring the first openly gay character in one of Disney's live-action adaptations, and without spoiling anything, there's a touching scene in the movie which sees Jack Whitehall's MacGregor come out to Dwayne Johnson's skipper, Frank. Both actors were asked about the scene during the global press conference.

While there's definitely still a long way to go before blockbuster movies like this one fully represent the world we live in today, this is a moment that feels like a step in the right direction. That wasn't lost on either of Jungle Cruise's co-stars. 

"I felt that the scene was really exactly what it was, which was two men talking about what they loved and who they loved," Johnson responded. "It was as simple as that. We were sharing a drink."

Whitehall adds: "Yeah, I think it was a scene that we really wanted to get right. What's so great about this movie is that all of the characters feel so fleshed out, and all of them have, you know, interesting backstories and are fully realized. In a lot of movies of this kind of genre, you'd [sometimes] have characters that are a little bit kinda two-dimensional."

"I think it's so great that we get to understand so much about each of these characters, and they all have reasons for being where they are and interesting and rich textured backstories," the British actor continued. "It makes you invested in them, and it makes you care about them.  And it [takes you] on that journey with them."

In our review of the movie, we described Jungle Cruise as a "fun family blockbuster that reminds us why we love going to the movies," and with the option to watch it both on the big screen and at home, there's really no excuse not to hop aboard and check it out this weekend.
 

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DoubleD
DoubleD - 7/30/2021, 6:03 AM
The movie was lots of fun enjoyed it at the theaters but the third act was little disappointing. But still a lot of fun. 3.5 Stars out of 5.
WakandanQueen
WakandanQueen - 7/30/2021, 6:08 AM
The queer subtext in Pixar's Luca was quite beautifully done, but other than that, Disney movies have been really wack in terms of actual LGBT representation.
Kumkani
Kumkani - 7/30/2021, 6:13 AM
OT: This looks INSANE wtf

TheFinestSmack
TheFinestSmack - 7/30/2021, 6:31 AM
@Kumkani - LET'S GO!
TheManWithoutFear
TheManWithoutFear - 7/30/2021, 6:27 AM
Can't believe Jack Whitehall is in big hollywood projects now. Ugh.
TheFinestSmack
TheFinestSmack - 7/30/2021, 6:28 AM
@TheManWithoutFear - It's about damn time!
TheOtherOn
TheOtherOn - 7/31/2021, 3:05 PM
@TheManWithoutFear - Jimmy probably gonna have some fun banter at his expense if/when Jack shows up on 8outof10cats/countdown again.
FeedTheHorse
FeedTheHorse - 7/31/2021, 6:08 PM
@TheOtherOn - It'll be "a League of their own" reunion when he's on The Late Late Show. James never really cracked it into big hollywood movies.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 7/30/2021, 6:44 AM
Reviews say it’s just Disney dancing around the matter once again and not explicitly stating anything
marvel72
marvel72 - 7/30/2021, 7:59 AM
@BlackBeltJones - it's so they can cut the scene out when they release it in China and Russia.
BecauseICare
BecauseICare - 7/30/2021, 7:02 AM
tl;dr: I'm boycotting this movie because of queerbaiting.

I am so sick of the queerbaiting Disney blatantly does in its properties these last (more than a few) years). They promised a big gay scene in the last STAR WARS movie.
What did we get? Two lesbians kissing in the background of the celebration scene at the end of the movie for two seconds. A portion of the scene that could (and was) easily cut from the movie to make it distributable to countries that aren't as "LGBTQIA+ friendly" as others.

They promised a big gay scene in MARVEL's Endgame. What did we get? One of the Russo brothers in a support group for survivors of "The Snap" talking about a date he went on with another dude that didn't turn out that great because all he could think about or talk about was his partner who had been dusted. Again, a portion of a larger scene that could (and was) easily cut from the movie to make it distributable to less "friendly" countries.

We were promised a gay character in "Beauty and the Beast". What did we get? A couple subtle hints throughout the movie that LeFou MIGHT have a crush on Gaston. But it was never outright said.

Then we have this movie. From all the reviews I've seen and read that address this portion of the movie it's yet another example of "tell me you're gay without telling me you're gay". From what I understand Jack Whitehall's character does everything but say "I'm gay." And when it comes to representation, those two words matter. Sorry, not sorry. They just do. And when you don't allow a person to be fully fleshed out in that way you end up paying lip service to my community without "pissing off" anybody else except for the true nut jobs. And that "lip service" is just not good enough for me anymore.

(Spoiler alert ahead!) So you've got Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt who by all accounts have chemistry that jumps off the screen in that playful way that romantic adventures do, ending up kissing each other in the end. Which, of course they do. It's a Disney movie. Then you've got the might as well be a eunuch "tell me you're gay without telling me you're gay" brother in the corner hinting at his sexuality but not actually saying it.

We are living in 2021, for God's sake. I'm sick of all the BLATANT queerbaiting that Disney does in some of its movies. So I'm boycotting this one. Furthermore, until they stop queerbaiting and actually produce a well rounded queer character on screen that isn't afraid to actually say the words, I'm boycotting any movie from Disney that comes with a press release touting "QUEER CHARACTER ON SCREEN!!!" I am sure Disney+ will not miss the $30 bucks I would have shelled out to see this movie, but I'm still boycotting it.

That's all.
MG0019
MG0019 - 7/30/2021, 7:58 AM
@BecauseICare -

You put into words a lot of what I was feeling. I don’t know if I’d go as far as to boycott it, but you do you.

My first reaction was “how many ‘historic first [buzz]’ are we going to have?” Not saying there shouldn’t be representation. But this feels more like lip service, & some marketing agenda. Like how every single book is the #1 New York Times Bestseller.

“Historic” doesn’t seem appropriate here, especially as they don’t commit to the reveal, & more importantly, they don’t say anything about that lifestyle. It doesn’t impact the story, analyze the real world, or really do anything.
MisterDoctor217
MisterDoctor217 - 7/30/2021, 10:06 AM
@BecauseICare -
I’m gay and I’m completely okay with them doing it like this. It’s not “queerbaiting”. That’s what’s wrong with the gay community nowadays, they want to yell “I’M GAY!!” to the four winds instead of normalizing it.
Being gay is just another thing, doesn’t need special treatment.
BecauseICare
BecauseICare - 7/30/2021, 11:40 AM
@MisterDoctor217 - Here's how I know you're not gay and you're trolling. Straight trolls LOVE to say gays want "special treatment" or "special rights" or to be treated in a "special way" that's somehow "different" than our straight counterparts, when in fact we don't. All we want is to be treated equally. And in this movie, dancing around the subject and not actually demonstrating in a tangible and meaningful way that you're gay is not equal at all. Especially since at the end of the movie Dwayne and Emily are practically slobbing each other down on camera. What Disney is doing in this movie is just plain lip service to the gay community. Much like from June 1st to June 30th corporations will fly the rainbow flag high and proud and hawk all their rainbow merch and say "love wins!" or "love is love!". On July 1st suddenly everything queer disappears and rainbows are 50% off. If you are indeed gay (I don't believe it for one second) and you're okay with the crumbs Disney is giving to us, fine. Live on crumbs. As for me, I want a whole damn meal. Why? Cause it's what the straights are eating. And if it's good enough for them, then dammit it's good enough for me too.
That's all.
MisterDoctor217
MisterDoctor217 - 7/30/2021, 11:51 AM
@BecauseICare -
Damn, well I mean it wasn’t necessary for me to point out I’m gay because it’s my opinion, my orientation is irrelevant.
And yes that may be true that straight couples always end up slobbering each other at the end of the movie but rarely gay couples, I don’t really see a problem with it to be honest. Maybe in the future it’ll change and that’ll be good, but I don’t believe a movie has to shout out a character is gay for it to be inclusive.

The gay community doesn’t fight for equality , it’s just a bunch of hypocrites wanting special treatment just like many other “equality” or “justice” movements nowadays, who really only fight for selfish reasons.
And for the record I am gay, and that’s why I don’t believe in this whole “pride” and “equality” that other gays spew because I’ve been in it, and I know how heartless and hypocritical they can be. Just like any other human, straight, gay, bi, or lesbian or whatever other gender they are.
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