This just in: Disney’s upcoming “Jungle Cruise” movie starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jack Whitehall will feature a big coming out scene… but there’s a catch.
No, it’s not that the character who comes out as gay will be played by a straight actor. There’s a different catch.
The coming out scene doesn’t actually use the operative word “gay.”
TMZ reports:
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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.
According to people who have seen the film, McGregor talks about how his family tried arranging several marriages for him with different women, but he wasn’t interested in any of them because he’s not into women.
TMZ continues:
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.
Earlier this year, Disney came under fire when it cast Whitehall, who is straight, to play its first gay character.
Since then, several actors have weighed in on the debate about representation and whether its appropriate for straight actors to play gay characters.
Most recently, Darren Criss vowed he will no longer take any LGBTQ roles, telling Bustle, “I won’t be another straight boy taking a gay man’s role.”
Related: Straight actor gets cast as Disney’s first openly gay role. Twitter explodes.
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Donston
“Gay” is still ultimately a controversial, divisive and weighty word. Some feel that unless you are 100% homosexual romantically, sexually, relationship wise and you’re totally indifferent towards females in every possible way then you shouldn’t embrace “gay”. This is also a PG Disney movie. So, I never really expected them to throw “gay” out there.
MarathonBoy
“Don’t say gay” seems to be a thing with Disney. In October 2017, on the Disney show “Andi Mack” a character named Cyrus Goodman opens up to a friend about a crush on another boy. That scene was well done and earned Andi Mack headlines and a GLAAD award. He does not say “I am gay” but in the context of a nervous 13-year old boy telling a friend, that didn’t seem to be a problem.
Everyone assumed that the character would be allowed to be openly gay. But instead, Disney sabotaged the gay storyline. By December 2018, neither that character or anyone else had used the word “gay” on the show. The character only referred (rarely) to this unrequited crush and at one point informed his friends that the crush had disappeared. The character was left closeted to his parents and to all but 2 friends. The show plans to let him have a boyfriend later this year – on the very last episode before the series wraps up. He will be legit gay for 10 minutes before the curtain falls.
It’s rank homophobia. GLAAD has said nothing, useless as always.
Selverd
How many times are you going to make the same post here?
MarathonBoy
I will make the above point when a news story arises on this site regarding either Andi Mack or regarding Disney and some gay representation issue, where the point is relevant. That’s how often.
In this case, the point is relevant because Andi Mack followed the same pattern of having a supposed “coming out” but without any mention of the word “gay.” It suggests that Disney may have a “don’t say gay” policy.
Selverd
Because you’re starting to sound like a broken record.
And how many children shows feature a gay male as a main character, period? Accusing one of the only ones that do of rank homophobia is a bit silly.
BigFloridaBear
Did we need something to complain about because the Christmas songs drama is over? The word “gay” in todays context only came about in the 1950’s. The word “homosexual” is from the early 1900’s. This movie is a period piece from the mid 1800’s. Disney gets kudos for having him come out on screen and doing it as he would in that era. Are there folks that are going to complain because the character doesn’t have a cell phone too?
Donston
I agree in this in particular context considering the time it takes place and the PG nature of the film. However, there does seem to be a general assault on the word “gay” that Hollywood and the “queer community” has been pushing for years. And if the ultimate goal is to live in a label-less society and wanting to push love and freedom above all else then showing us some actual loving and healthy same-sex couples on screen would be nice. But we’re not getting any of that either. It seems like the industry is both trying snuff out or shame the word “gay” but also doesn’t highlight or show any real support towards same-sex love and commitment. That combination is what’s upsetting/disturbing.
Rex Huskey
sounds hopeful
Pete le meat
In a way, I’m glad. The word “gay” has become synonymous with identity politics. It’s a word that has grown to become a means of controlling people rather than liberating people. Good riddance to the gay word.
ShowMeGuy
Bitches gonna bitch. Plain and simple. Historical and cultural accuracy are important details in a period piece and Disney is hardcore about the little details. To have this character say the word gay would have made no damn sense….just as it would be stupid if The Rock’s character gave a safe sex lecture and demonstrated by putting a condom on a banana.
Also, I want straight people to keep playing gay characters because I want the triple word score in Scrabble….I want to see the day an OUT gay man gets the lead playing a stereotypical, hyper-masculine, heterosexual, “saves the day”, hero in a summer blockbuster action-adventure film….because he is the best actor for the job.
Donston
I really don’t see much of any bitching about this though. Queerty is trying to spark controversy, but there’s not really any there.
And openly gay actor getting a lead in a big blockbuster is obviously still quite a ways away.
TheMarc
Love every word you said, ShowMeGuy! Absolutely, spot on!
JessPH
First of all, the word gay (as description of homosexuals) didn’t exist during the setting of the story of this film. Secondly, Hollywood is afraid of China which imposed a ban on any gay-related stuff on any form of entertainment.
Creamsicle
This is still a progressive move. Disney is just trying to play both sides of the fence while they can pretend to.
They are going to get angry media over this and probably some fringe group boycotts, but the movie will still do alright. It’s a movie they’re making to update the relevance of a Disneyland ride. I’m not expecting Citizen Kane.
dmarcus
First of course they don’t use the word “gay” because that terminology didn’t exist yet.
I’m still so disappointed that Disney didn’t hire a gay actor for their “first” milestone gay character. Once again another gay actor misses out on an opportunity to be part of queer cinema milestone and to represent his community. Leave it to another straight guy to represent the LGBTQ community. I guess having black actors in Black Panther, a woman playing Wonder Woman, and Asians actors in Crazy Rich Asians was enough for society to accept diversity in movies. Disney please remove all aspects of this character being gay and save it for an actual gay actor in your first actual gay character. This is such a disservice to our community that we get time and time again. I will not see this movie and I don’t care if you don’t care that I won’t see it. I rather send my support to actual LGBTQ actors then some straight actor playing gay and getting praised for it. I refuse to be another gay founding over a straight actor playing gay and creating fantasies about it.
To be clear I’m fine with straight actors playing gay and vice versa but we barely see LGBTQ actors playing their roles or any roles. So yeah I’m pushing for us to play our stories. And I’m so tired of actors and directors (both straight and queer) keep viewing LGBTQ roles as an occupation or their orientation as being less significant. Being gay, trans, or bi is a livelihood. It’s our identity, culture, life, and persona and is as important at as being a woman, man, Black, Asian, white, or Hispanic.