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This “Jungle Cruise” has a few notable passengers.
As Disney’s action-adventure comedy (now in theaters and Disney + via Premier Access) revolves around Dwayne Johnson’s little Amazon River captain, Frank Wolff, and Emily Blunt’s pioneering scientist, Lily Houghton, two noteworthy characters attract disproportionate attention in the film based on the famous Disneyland. stroll.
British comedian Jack Whitehall plays Lily’s brother MacGregor Houghton, who is gay, even coming out of a scene with Wolff (but notably without using the word “gay”).
Meanwhile, the shrunken and controversial head-dealer Trader Sam, recently pulled from the Jungle Cruise after criticism for his racist portrayal of indigenous peoples, reappears on screen in the reimagined form of Mexican actress Veronica Falcón.
Here’s how the characters took their place on board.
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MacGregor Houghton is dating his Jungle Cruise captain (not saying “gay”)
Disney has been criticized for the lack of representation of LGBTQ films in movies and has called for flashing gay character moments or you will miss it in films such as “Beauty and the Beast” and “Onward.” In “Jungle Cruise,” Whitehall’s MacGregor subtly appears in a scene with Johnson’s Frank.
MacGregor explains how he turned down three potential engagements with women in London society in 1917. “Fortunately, my interests lie … elsewhere,” MacGregor says. Frank hoists his gourd while saying. “Well, to somewhere else.”
The word “gay” is not mentioned in the scene, which further explains MacGregor’s bond with his sister: Audiences learn that MacGregor’s remaining family and company have turned their backs on him “all because of who I ‘love”.
Blunt and Johnson say the low-key scene is their favorite “Jungle Cruise” moment.
“It doesn’t matter if he says the word ‘gay’ or not,” says Johnson, producer of the film. “What really mattered was the truth between two people, two human beings, sharing a drink and talking about the things they loved, the people they loved and who they are.”
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“We didn’t want to make it look like we were standing on a soapbox,” Johnson adds, noting that the scene shows that diversity and inclusion were “owned and respected” in the film.
Blunt praised screenwriter Michael Green for designing the scene “with delicacy and simplicity”.
Producer Hiram Garcia said the filmmakers of “Jungle Cruise” never considered including a gay character in the period play. “We didn’t know where it was going, the character naturally progressed that way,” said Garcia, who insisted there was no control over Disney. “There was no battle, they loved the scene too.”
Initial reactions to the gay character have been mixed, with a Twitter user stating: “Disney will really do anything to avoid using the word ‘gay’ in its mainstream content.”
“The JUNGLE CRUISE gay character is cute and is generally right about things,” wrote another Twitter user. “Spin it around, give it a traveling show.”
For critics calling the character’s opaque phrasing evasive, Garcia said, “It was never about staying away from the wording… It was just high and elegant. And the scene is quite touching.”
Rebooted Trader Sam Returns As A Female Character
Disney Parks announced in January that they were revamping the original Disneyland attraction after criticizing the representation of Indigenous peoples in the ride. Wanting a new attraction that “would reflect and value the diversity of the world around us,” Disney revealed the new attraction at its California park earlier this month.
Cannibal Trader Sam has been removed from the ride, which now ends at Trader Sam’s Lost and Found with a sign that read, “Back in 15 minutes, Sam.”
But “Jungle Cruise,” the movie, shows a brand new Trader Sam (played by actress “Ozark” and “Perry Mason” Falcón) as the leader of a peaceful tribe who mischievously works on a scam game with Frank to deceive unsuspecting passengers.
Garcia says Disney suggested a new Trader Sam from the start. “Disney basically said, ‘This (character) is an area we’ve always been unhappy with. We want to know how we can bring him up. What’s the version you want to tell in the movie?’ And we had a great time. “
Blunt says Trader Sam’s conversations were “deliberate” between filmmakers, Disney studios, and Disney parks.
“We figured out that we have to maintain that fancy and that driving spirit with all the nostalgia, but we also have to bring it into this modern era of what’s appropriate,” says Blunt. “We had to be sensitive to how people want to be represented and respectful of cultures.”
As to whether the revamped Trader Sam will return to park attractions, Disney Parks spokesperson Michele Himmelberg said: “There are no other plans for Trader Sam at this time.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘Jungle Cruise’: Gay character sparks debate, new Trader Sam makes debut
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