Disney is making strides by introducing its first openly gay character in the upcoming "Jungle Cruise" movie, which will feature a big coming out scene...but there's one important step that's missing. A test screening of the film took place last week -- it'll get a wide release in 2020 -- and sources who attended tell TMZ Disney avoids using the word "gay" when Jack Whitehall's character, McGregor, comes out to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. We're told, at one point, McGregor has a heart-to-heart with The Rock's lead character, Frank, about dating history...and McGregor makes it very clear he isn't into ladies. Keep in mind, this flick isn't set in modern times.
McGregor explains to Frank his family had tried arranging marriages for him with several women, but he didn't wanna marry any of them -- or any woman, for that matter. He also says Emily Blunt's character, Lily (his sister in the movie), was the only one in his fam to accept him and support him regardless of the "person" he loves. We're told the scene was well-received by the audience, but the glaring omission of a pronoun to describe McGregor's love interest did not go unnoticed. Unclear if the scene will make the final cut -- but ya gotta imagine it will, given how significant a move it is for Disney to include a gay character in an action blockbuster.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt are both A-listers with a long list of box office hits, but when it comes to their Disney paychecks, he gets treated more than twice as nice. The actors are set to costar in the upcoming "Jungle Cruise" movie, but according to our sources The Rock's hauling in way more cash for his role. We're told he's getting $22 million to play the lead male character, Frank while Emily's only getting $9 mil to play the lead female, Lily.
Maybe that's why the release date was pushed back, because they weren't happy with the results and felt they needed to do these reshoots. I hope they're able to fix the things that need to be fixed and make a decent movie.
Atlantica wrote:Just seen from The Rock's instagram that they are currently back & doing reshoots for it at the moment.
It's only a week.
Just wrapped Hobbs & Shaw and had to switch gears for rehearsals for DISNEY’S JUNGLE CRUISE with my brilliant co-star, Emily Blunt.
Our visionary Spanish director, Jaume Collet-Serra leading our production with cool and edgy storytelling.
And I’ll continue to play my guitar in chords that don’t exist and deliver my character’s very bad, but oh so good PUNS that annoy the shit outta ol’ toots here, Emily
Hard to express the fun we’ve all had on this epic adventure of a movie.
Based off of the iconic Disney ride, JUNGLE CRUISE. #FinalWeekOfProduction
#AdventureOfALifetime
#FrankAnnoysTheShitOuttaLily
#JungleCruise
@hhgarcia41
So, I think they're only filming a couple of scenes again. It happens all the time.
I'm pretty sure this film was delayed because it was too close to the 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle' sequel. Too much Dwayne Johnson in the jungle in one year.
Old Fish Tale wrote:I'm pretty sure this film was delayed because it was too close to the 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle' sequel. Too much Dwayne Johnson in the jungle in one year.
I really hope this movie is in the same vein as the first Mummy film with Rachel Weisz and Brendon Fraser; a rollocking old fashioned adventure with a great script.
Atlantica wrote:I really hope this movie is in the same vein as the first Mummy film with Rachel Weisz and Brendon Fraser; a rollocking old fashioned adventure with a great script.
Dwayne and Emily have said 'The African Queen' and especially 'Romancing the Stone' were its inspirations.
Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (The Shallows, The Commuter), the film stars Dwayne Johnson is as Frank; A witty riverboat captain cursed with immortality who takes Lily Houghton down the river. Blunt will play Lily Houghton, Spunky scientist in search of the Tree of Life. Her quest is inspired in part by the death of her brother, which was caused by an infectious disease. Jack Whitehall will play Blunt’s brother. With Edgar Ramirez and Jesse Plemons joining as villains, and Paul Giamatti as crusty harbormaster. With an appearance by Trader Sam.
So... is Jack Whitehall dead in this movie? Do we only see him in flashback or from beyond the grave? Or is there another brother somewhere? Or maybe he is infected and at risk of dying, but gets to join the adventure on the Jungle Cruise and makes it through in the end? How disappointing it would be (in 2019!!!) to see Disney’s first gay original character fall victim to the “Bury Your Gays” trope.
I was really looking forward to this movie as a fun action-comedy with a great cast but if this is true it puts a damper on my enthusiasm.
The story details from that synopsis come from an article by That Hashtag Show that has been deleted since then, so I think it's possible they were either false or from an earlier version of the script.
According to the synopsis most sites have posted, Jack Whitehall's character will be with the others in the adventure:
Jungle Cruise is a period piece set in the early-1900s Amazon jungle, and follows a boat captain (Johnson) tasked with taking a woman (Blunt) and her brother (Jack Whitehall) to a mythical tree with magical healing powers.
It sounds like the tree of life is guarded by a "man" made of snakes. Probably similar to the mouse king in 'The Nutcracker and the Four Realms'. So, this film has three antagonists. The other two are played by Edgar Ramirez and Jesse Plemons.
Oh, and Dwayne apparently plays against type because his character is a bit of a fraud.
By the way, I'm guessing the first trailer will play in front of 'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil':
Huge and exciting day for @disneysjunglecruise as we just debuted the first-ever footage for Disney’s most loyal fans at their incredible biennial event, #D23. The crowd went wild as @therock rolled in on a beautifully refurbished Jungle Cruise boat from the original attraction. He gave the fans a special look at the “DJ trailer” before Emily Blunt took to the stage in a vintage automobile right out of London circa 1916, surprising the cheering fans. She honked the horn and quickly interjected to debut the “real Emily trailer” which favors her character’s pov. Needless to say, neither one was the official trailer, but the audience loved every second of their exclusive first look. Keep a tight eye for our official trailer in the Fall. On July 24, 2020 get ready for #TheAdventureOfALifetime @disneyjunglecruise @therock #EmilyBlunt @jackwhitehall @hhgarcia41 @danygarciaco @michaelseanbailey @scotify
The presentation for this movie was awesome It really got me excited for this movie though I wasn’t before. It is visually beautiful. And the intrigue seems appealing.
Despite my uneasiness about the way Disney may portray one of its first gay characters, this is still the live action Disney film I am most looking forward to seeing. A new action adventure comedy, reminiscent of The African Queen and when The Pirates of the Caribbean was good. The cast is top notch, too. Hopefully the movie lives up to expectations!
Old Fish Tale wrote:
Oh, and Dwayne apparently plays against type because his character is a bit of a fraud.
I'm glad to hear that because in most of his films, he basically just plays himself.
We’re a dyad in the Force. Two that are one. "I offered you my hand once. You wanted to take it." - Kylo Ren "I did want to take your hand. Ben's hand." - Rey
Have spoken too a few people who have seen an early cut of Jungle Cruise, all of them told me positive things. Could very well be Disney’s next Pirates franchise! Names and details are forbidden!
It really got me excited for this movie though I wasn’t before. It is visually beautiful. And the intrigue seems appealing.
