WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Jungle Cruise, now available in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access.
Jungle Cruise primarily focuses on the quest to find the Tree of Life and the healing blossoms it produces. While most of the plot is dedicated to race for these Tears of the Moon, there's a moment of quiet character development that sets the fantasy adventure apart from Disney's other recent live-action film: Jack Whitehall's reluctant explorer MacGregor reveals to Dwayne Johnson's Captain Frank Wolff that he's gay.
He doesn't use those words, of course -- Jungle Cruise is set in 1916 -- but the meaning is clear. And while MacGregor isn't the first LGBT character to appear in a Disney film, he's the most prominent so far.
MacGregor is the younger brother to Lily (Emily Blunt), the head-strong botanist and explorer at the center of Jungle Cruise. While she's filled with curiosity and ambition to see the world, MacGregor is quickly established as someone who prefers the finer things in life. He dons pristine white suits and loudly complains when Frank refuses to bring his excessive luggage aboard his boat. However, MacGregor also proves to have a strong arm and an unwavering devotion to his sister because, as he explains to Frank, she stood by him when others shunned him.
That's the entire reason MacGregor risks comfort and safety, as he refuses to abandon Lily, even as she charges headlong into danger. There's a notable change in MacGregor after he confides in Frank; he's more openly confident and takes an active role in the fight against German aristocrat Prince Joachim (Jesse Plemons), who also seeks the Tree of Life. McGregor even ends Jungle Cruise loudly championing his sister's appointment to Cambridge and mocking the society of adventurers that earlier dismissed their quest.
Disney's recent attempts at LGBT representation in live-action films have largely met with criticism. From the fleeting kiss in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and the ambiguity of LeFou in Beauty and the Beast to the unnamed "Grieving Man" in Avengers: Endgame to the queer-coded but not openly gay Artie in Cruella, each trumpeted "milestone" has been met with disappointment, and pushback, from LGBT audiences.
However, MacGregor is notable in that he openly addresses his sexuality, even if the word "gay" is never spoken, and that it can be seen as part of -- but not the entirety of -- his character arc. He gains more confidence throughout the film, especially after being open with Frank. That's not to say that MacGregor's characterization doesn't fall back on stereotypes; he's depicted as an effete man who desires fine clothes, food and wine. So, there's still work to be done.
But it's a small step forward for Disney, and an indication that there is room in the studio's big-budget films for openly LGBT characters to be central to the plot, and not merely ambiguous or peripheral.
Based on Disney Parks' classic attraction of the same name, Jungle Cruise is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, and is now in theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access.