Jonathan Bailey Felt the 'Weight of History' Leading “Jurassic World” as an Out Gay Actor

"Any sort of sense of prejudice against sexuality is something to fight against, and what better way to do that than to go and play any kind of character," added Bailey, 37.

"Being an out gay actor, historically, meant that you wouldn't be able to play straight and there weren't any gay parts to play anyway. That's obviously changed massively," he said.

Bailey has had a range of memorable roles since making fans swoon as Lord Anthony Bridgerton on the hit Netflix romance, including opposite Matt Bomer in Fellow Travelers and beside Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in Wicked, where he played Prince Fiyero.

For Attitude magazine's February 2021 issue, Bailey spoke about being discouraged to come out as gay while pursuing an acting career.

He said at the time, "The most conservative conversations I’ve had about me being honest about my sexuality in this day and age have come from gay men in the industry, ‘Oh, no, you can’t come out. You shouldn’t really do that. If you do that, you’re going to have to....' "

"There’s a sense of shame, I think, that’s palpable throughout gay men within the industry. But then there’s also this heteronormative, heterosexual understanding of sexuality," said Bailey.

"So, in my generation," he continued, "the out gay actors are now being poached. And you get a script sent through and they’ll say, ‘Must be comfortable with talking about sexuality.' So that is in one way a brilliant thing, because it’s saying we’re not encouraging anyone not to talk about sexuality, but it’s also showing that sexuality is becoming a commodity. That actually there needs to be this sense that studios are hiring gay actors to play either gay actors or straight."

Zzzz. Just take some clothes off & smile. We don’t give a shit about the rest

That boy is so damned hot I can't stand it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here I am, over 50, no kids, and I intend to see this silly dinosaur monster movie at least a dozen times.

She feels "the weight of history" appearing in some sequel to some decades-old dino movie?

MARY!!!

I'd like to feel the weight of Jonathan...

Lightweight

OMG - I had always though he was straight (or claimed to be straight). This is HUGE news for me.

The weight of history? Girl, get over yourself. You're not the first and you're not the trailblazer you think you are. It's 2025 - tons of out gay actors paved the way for you.

As if.

He just has to make sure that when the dinosaur is chasing him, he's not running like a girl.

Or that he gets the girl-/it wouldn’t end well.

It's actually significant an out gay man is playing THE male lead in a big Hollywood action film. Is this the first time?

No. Not by decades

Hoping somebody's not starting to take himself a bit too seriously....

Yet another actor who is smoldering hot when portraying anger or sadness, but looks special, like he eats gum off the short bus floor goofy when he’s happy….

How many guys have tried tonguing those adorable ears?

Pulled on them? Many.

He played straight great in Bridgerton. He had better chemistry with his love interest than his straight costars did.

Was his love interest not straight? 🤔

I'm pregnant

He did play a straight romantic lead convincingly in Wincerton. He's kinda smashed that ceiling.

He’s being respectful.

This is a big moment. Jonathan Bailey is the first openly gay actor to lead a major Hollywood franchise — and that matters.

But the irony is that it also exposes how deeply rooted Hollywood’s homophobia still is, even in an industry that loves to call itself progressive.

The truth is, the idea that a gay man can’t lead an action franchise has always been theoretical — because it has never happened and there’s never been an attempt.

I'll schay thisch.. he'sch a schtar with a capital essSch!

It is interesting because there are a lot of actors in the closet because they think it will damage their career to come out. Then you've got this guy, out and leading big films. In 2025 most people don't care if you're gay or straight, it's about your on-screen talent.

MARY!

[quote]It is interesting because there are a lot of actors in the closet because they think it will damage their career to come out.

Are there though? I know there are - have to be - on DL.

But in the real world, really, how many are left?

I think Colton Haynes can play straight, very well.

Surprisingly.

r20, I agree with your comment as long as it is amended to an "OUT" gay man has never led an action film franchise. I suspect that there have been at least a few gay men (or men who had sex with men, if they did not identify as gay). We have discussed many of those here at DL before. But Jonathan has been out for a decade. I guess we could also argue that Luke Evans has been PART of an action film franchise, although I'm not sure he was openly gay in 2010.

I'm cautiously optimistic. There's no way it will be worse than the Chris Pratt movies.

[quote] She feels "the weight of history" appearing in some sequel to some decades-old dino movie?

Right?

FFS it’s Jurassic Park, not Lawrence fucking Arabia.

Bailey is the first out actor that, I believe, no one cares what his sexuality is in real life. He’s not stuck with gay only roles.

This movie didn't do so great, did it.

Support this movie if you can!!

Matt Bomer must be SO jealous!

OP, in the manner of the Daily Mail, omitted the line immediately before the "weight of history" remark, where the reporter invokes history by talking about "...lucrative blockbuster franchises, an area that’s had, until late[ly], a pretty weak track record of inclusivity."

Bailey's remark about the "endless brilliant people who have come before you who have changed the way that people see sexuality” is most likely referring to [non-movie-related] advocates for the LGBT community over the years, which is a consciousness he carries from his work on Fellow Travelers. As for the way people see sexuality, the most antediluvian creatures in his sights with this new movie might be the straight men who love dinosaurs but still think gay men can't climb mountains and will scream if they fall over in mud. If he can win that demographic it will be a very big deal.

R22 My point in my R20 post was actors aren’t in the closet from us, they’re in the closet because of Hollywood execs and casting directors are homophobic.

The fact that Matt Bomer came out the closet and it boosted his popularity but tanked his acting roles speaks volumes.

The public isn’t the problem.

R26 Yeah, my point is Hollywood is homophobic and this exposes that they never gave openly gay actors a chance at anything.

The whole “gays can’t open a box office” has been theoretical this entire time.

Did this get released yet?

No.

R34. the reason Matt Bomer has not succeeded where Bailey and Pedro Pascal (yes I know he is not out-out like Bailey) is because they have something which he doesn’t, and which is extremely rare in Hollywood anymore

Pitch-perfect charisma. They crave attention and revel in the spotlight. They are perfectly suited for today’s social media ecosystem. They are one-men content factories.

There are very few male stars who know how to play this game. Timothée Chalamet and Glen Powell off the top of my head.

But for every Glen Powell there are five Harris Dickinsons or Jacob Elordis (remote, aloof, serious); five Jack Quaids and Patrick Schwarzeneggers (nepobabies who just want it SO badly), five Josh O’Connors and Mike Faists (rodent men).

Gay men think that being a Hollywood star is the greatest thing one can achieve. It’s quite sad.

Bailey has the best combination of charisma and talent of any actor working today.

Bailey's box-office numbers will dwarf Glenn Powell's by the end of 2025. His run of Bridgerton-Wicked-Jurassic World-Wicked 2 is unparalleled in the industry right now.

That poor man, a gay Atlas, bearing the weight of the world.

As my mom would say: dry up. As my dad would say: the world is not tied to your ass.

He should be campaigning for Bobby Drake for X-Men… he basically already is Bobby Drake personality wise.

Who? What?

You into that children’s cartoon crap?

That children’s crap can do a billion worldwide and being in it can help Bailey get his own projects made

If he was cast as Ice Man it would be the first gay superhero played by a gay actor in a comic book movie.

Zzzzz

[quote] Scarlett Johansson’s Husband ‘Isn’t Thrilled’ by Jonathan Bailey’s Viral Kiss: ‘Source’

Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey recently shared a viral kissing moment on the red carpet, and The Avengers star’s husband, Colin Jost, is reportedly not too happy about it. On Tuesday, June 17, Johansson and Bailey reunited at the world premiere of their film, Jurassic World Rebirth, at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London.

While on the red carpet, fans could see the alleged oozing chemistry between the two actors. Although Jost is aware of the two stars’ friendship, he is allegedly not a fan of how close they have become.

Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey’s undeniable chemistry and closeness at the Jurassic World Rebirth premiere have reportedly caught the attention of Johansson’s husband, Colin Jost. As reported by ShuterScoop, the comedian and host felt a bit “jealous” after seeing his wife share a wholesome moment with her co-star Bailey on the red carpet.

Moments after the world premiere in London, a video of Jonathan Bailey and Scarlett Johansson kissing affectionately went viral. It showed the two actors cheerfully greeting one another, hugging, and then sharing a friendly peck on the lips. Not only did fans notice the moment, but so did Colin Jost.

Per ShuterScoop, a “source” told them that Colin Jost “knows Jonathan is gay and happily taken.” The person continued, “But that doesn’t mean he’s not a little jealous of how close they’ve gotten.” The “insider” also went on to gush about how Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey have become close friends. The person said, “They adore each other — like a modern-day Will and Grace.”

The “source” continued, “It’s pure friendship.” They also explained, “But Colin’s used to being Scarlett’s main scene partner.” The person added, “Now he’s watching someone else share the spotlight.” However, none of the three celebrities has commented on the matter.

JB gets a pass because he's British.

If he was an American, he probably wouldn't have the career he has now.

R46 See! Leading gay men can still cause spicy co-star gossip rumors

I would love for somebody to list all these out gay men who led blockbuster action movies before this which JB should feel ridiculous for forgetting.

And no Ian McKellen wasn’t the lead in the Lord of the rings or the X-Men movies and no Luke Evans wasn’t out (or the lead) in The Hobbitses

I know, R48, I know.

Again, Luke Evans was in Clash of the Titans, and also the Immortals. But both of those action films were essentially ensemble films, with not much attention paid to any one actor. in particular as "the star" or the "leading man". So, I think JB probably is correct in his evaluation of his role.

OMG. It’s like has Rupert Everett’s publicist.

Just shut up.

R40: Bailey may have charisma but he can't take all the credit for his box office successes. He's playing it way too safe like Glen Powell and picking safe-proof, PG-13 IP commercial films.

Imagine if a director Like Paul Thomas Anderson or Christopher Nolan had any interest in making a gay man the lead of their movie. It's a miracle he's getting the male lead in any kind of movie given Hollywood's actual conservatism. Maybe he can get an Andrew Haigh movie and get an actual acting role. The man can act, he's not just a hot piece of ass.

R53, Wicked and the dinosaur movie are literally Bailey's first forays into film, unless you count roles like "courtier" in small British movies you've never heard of. You can't accuse him of playing it safe until he can choose what he wants to be in.

In television and on stage, where he does have an amount of choice, his projects since the success of Bridgerton (for which he can take some credit as he's playing Lord Bridgerton) have been various and controversial. A contemporary play with Taron Edgerton called Cock; the sexually explicit and politically critical Fellow Travelers, a joint lead role he is known to have proactively sought; and the lead in Richard II, a really difficult Shakespeare role on which the success of the whole production depends. Those were the choices he made between and after filming the Hollywood movies. Unless there is a side to him I haven't yet seen, I imagine Glen Powell would have run screaming from any of those.

Paul Thomas Anderson or Christopher Nolan wouldn’t cast him

Andrew Scott, they would cast.

[quote] But in the real world, really, how many are left?

More than you would realize. Those old-school homophobic sexual politics are as alive as ever in Hollywood. Still the name of the game.

Why can't they cast Jonathan in Gilded Age as Oscar's infatuation.

The Jurassic Park movies have declined with each installment, but I'll probably go see this dreck in IMAX to give myself some grace since he can't actually sit on my face in real life.

Oh the pressure is immeasurable.

Gays think they’re saving the universe if they’re cast in a movie or tv show.

R12 who?

R39, that's not what he said

Like it or not, there has always been a stigma towards out gay men playing straight romantic leads. We mock and laugh at celebrities who are hiding in the closet, so can't we give some credit to the ones who aren't?

99% of Jurassic fans don’t know he’s gay nor they care. A badge of courage unnoticed upon. People are paying for CGI, not a love story.

[quote]99% of Jurassic fans don’t know he’s gay nor they care

Isn't that the whole point? That for decades Hollywood has been saying people WILL be able to tell and they WILL care?

If even the dudebros who love dinosaurs don't know or care, and women are slavering over Bailey wherever he goes, why shouldn't every actor in Hollywood be out?

The point is he’s giving himself undeserved credit.

[quote] The point is he’s giving himself undeserved credit.

No, he's actually not.

He’s not the star. He’s not carrying the movie. The dinasaurs are the stars.

dinosaurs*

People masturbate to Anime characters anymore. It’s not that far of a stretch that a straight woman would be turned on by a sexy gay dude. Some of them watch gay porn as much as we do and are turned by seeing two guys go at it. So gay men can lead movies. Ever since I watched Jonathan Groff go down on his girlfriend in Mindhunters, I figured we’d arrived.

[quote] dinasaurs

[quote] dinosaurs*

It's DINOSOURS and POLAR BARS!!!

He's out and they're still trying to make him appear less gay with all that ScarJo PDA.

Scarlett's relationship with Jonathan is breaking up her marriage. She has 10x more chemistry with Bailey than her own husband.

What is this, the 23rd Jurassic Park movie? You'd think by now they'd be like "you know, every time we clone these fucking dinosaurs it turns into a fucking shitshow. Maybe we should stop doing this."

I wish some journalist on the press tour would ask him "hey Jonathan, what did Matt Bomer's ass taste like?"

What r68 said. The dinosaurs are the stars of these stupid movies, it doesn't matter who the male lead is. Get back to us when an out gay actor is playing Superman or Batman.

Datalounge loves nothing more than attacking a successful out-of-the-closet gay man. Every time a gay man is successful at something, and he's not hiding his sexuality like a good little faggot, DL brings out the knives.

Every. Damn. Time. It's so sadly predictable, you really have to wonder what's behind it.

Actually, the subject of the “attack” is shitty Hollywood rinse-and-repeat cinema with fully interchangeable performers.

Nobody's attacking Bailey because he's gay r77. Have you read the fucking thread?

The movie is way beneath him and his skill level but if it helps convince old white straight male studio heads that they can cast gays in blockbusters then it’s a great thing.

Did you read my fucking post, R79? Where did I say he was being attacked "because he's gay?" I said Datalounge loves attacking gay men who are out of the closet. I never said why. I don't know why. But anytime a gay man who is out is successful at something, DL comes out in force to attack.

Datalounge hates successful gay men who aren't closeted. That's not the same thing as "Datalounge hates Jonathan Bailey 'because he's gay'."

Learn to read, moron.

[quote]I said Datalounge loves attacking gay men who are out of the closet. I never said why. I don't know why. But anytime a gay man who is out is successful at something, DL comes out in force to attack.

We're talking shit about a stupid film franchise and how Hollywood is still homophobic because any actor can be the lead in these stupid movies because the fucking dinosaurs are the stars. We're not talking shit about Bailey because he's out. Although he is a bit self-important about starring in a dinosaur movie for children.

R82, I'm going to type slowly, so hopefully you can follow along.

I don't care what you think "we" are talking about. I am talking about a tendency on DL to attack, dismiss and disparage any gay man who is both successful and out of the closet. I'm not talking about a specific film, franchise, or set of special effects. I'm not posting about "the fucking dinosaurs."

I'm talking about a pervasive attitude among a vocal set of posters here who can't abide a successful gay man who is unashamed of his sexuality and needs to denigrate such individuals, who are still quite rare these days, at every opportunity.

That's it. Maybe you're on a different wavelength. Maybe you haven't observed what I have. But your line about him being "a bit self-important" when he's an A-list star of the sort normally drooled over here if he were closeted, bearding or actively heterosexual, is exactly what I'm talking about.

I'm sure that all sailed right over your head. Again. WHOOSH!

You chose this thread to make an example of us. You could have created a new thread and engaged a discussion. But you don’t get to come to a thread created to shitpost summer movies and tell us we don’t get it.

Good day, sir.

r83 you bloviating ass, you are in a thread where nobody is talking shit about Jonathan Bailey because he's an out gay man. Period. We're talking shit about a stupid dinosaur franchise movie and Hollywood's lack of originality. And Bailey is a tad self-important about being the lead in a film where any actor would be a lead and it doesn't matter BECUASE THE FUCKING DINOSAURS ARE THE STARS OF THIS PIECE OF SHIT FRANCHISE.

WHOOSH! youself.

[quote]He's out and they're still trying to make him appear less gay with all that ScarJo PDA.

Trailers for Call Me by Your Name tried to make it appear that the romance was between Chalamet's character and his Italian girlfriend. Someone in publicity/marketing will always try to straightwash any hint of gayness in the hope of getting every last fundie homeschooler in Peoria to spend her money.

Jonathan gets great notices from people who saw last night’s sneak preview

I saw it last night, also. Johansson was terrible, Bailey was really good, but I thought Mahershala Ali was great.

He usually is.

How was T Rex? I bet he killed it! That’s a STAR.

"Then you've got this guy, out and leading big films. In 2025 most people don't care if you're gay or straight, it's about your on-screen talent. "

No one going to see ANOTHER Jurassic Park film cares about on-screen talent. They like blockbuster dinosaur movies.

I heard there was some male on male Dilophosaurus action. True?

Who?

Maybe he wanted to know what Colin tasted like

He was amazing in Fellow Travelers.

Well the thing with Jonathan Bailey and Glen Powell is what they’re doing is they’re latching onto IP films to generate their star power for the future projects.

I think there has been a strategy to start making movie stars again after 15 years of comic book heroes being the stars.

Any new rising star who’s not doing comic book movies needs an applause because they’re making it!

Jonathan Bailey, Glen Powell, and Sydney Sweeney. I don’t particularly like them but I like them for trying.

It's not the "the weight of history" it's the botox seeping into his brain.

The first gay & out actor to be eaten by a CGI dinosaur

Ha!

I've been here for over a decade and R77 is 100% right. DL always finds something for which to attack an out gay man who is experience success. And the people arguing with him can't read--he's right about that too.

*experiencing*

R99 if that were true, then this is the safest place for you—

[quote] because any actor can be the lead in these stupid movies

Artistically/talent-wise, perhaps true. But in terms of the business/politics of Hollywood, no. If that were true, there'd be a whole list of out gay male stars leading silly popcorn flicks intended to make billions in box office, merchandising, and theme park attractions. But there isn't.

John Campea hosts a popular YouTube channel on movies.

He saw a sneak preview of Jurassic Park Rebirth and said it has about 15 minutes of excellent action scenes but the rest of it is just awful. Bad writing, inexplicable plot holes, he went on and on.

One of his viewers said it should called Jurassic Park: Refund

Yes. Terribly important “history”.

R102 is correct.

You can say he's not the true star and that people are just going to see the special effects...but it doesn't change the fact that out actors just aren't cast in the lead in big blockbusters like this

It's BS that audiences care about nothing but the effects. Despite being an adult when it came out, I only saw the OG movie for the first time last month, but I've always known Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum were in it because people always mention that when they talk about it. Also, if the hardcore fanbase (which is who is going to the previews) is complaining about bad writing and plot holes in this one--well, they're not complaining about dinosaurs, are they? From what I've heard they all seem to think the way it deals with the critters is fine.

The other thing I haven't seen any of the early reactions complain about is the casting of Bailey in their macho franchise.

[quote]But in terms of the business/politics of Hollywood, no. If that were true, there'd be a whole list of out gay male stars leading silly popcorn flicks intended to make billions in box office, merchandising, and theme park attractions. But there isn't.

Again, the dinosaurs are the stars of this franchise, it's not about superheroes.

He’s the new spokesperson for Martini

Poseur

Studios are looking to bring in as much $$% as they can. I don't care how much one claims the dinosaurs are the stars. The cast matters. Otherwise they'd bring in no names they could pay peanuts and not two stars - one on the rise and the other one of the world's most famous actresses.

And anything that might keep audiences away they avoid. The male lead being openly gay has been seen as a huge risk in this genre. It's probably been the case for maybe ten or so years if not more that such worry about it eating into profits is unfounded given the increased acceptance of gay people, but no studio has really been willing to be the first to test that. Until now.

[quote]And anything that might keep audiences away they avoid. The male lead being openly gay has been seen as a huge risk in this genre.

Get back to us when an out gay actor is cast as Superman or Batman.

Its a risk if they’re looking to make $$$ in ass-backwards territories

Where they have no idea who Bailey even is…much less his sexuality.

Sure, Jan.

Jonathan and Ed Skrein are a couple.

^ For real?

Ask Ed’s three children…

Jeezus

Jonathan about to get pregnant by Ed.

BritBoxBoyzBeBangin’

He's a popcorn actor

Jonathan Bailey playing the clarinet for his solo in the Jurassic World Rebirth soundtrack 🥹

Show off!

I thought Brits didn’t go for such display. The nail that sticks up gets the hammer, and all that.

I'd like to feel the weight of Jonathan Bailey's ass against my face.

^ me too

Pay no attention to the asshole who created the thread that said my movie is absolute shit!

He's looked varying degrees of hot in his press tour.

Saw the film tonight. I love Jonathan Bailey, but I agree that he's not really cast as an action hero in this film, or at least the main action hero. He sort of plays a professorial type who is accidentally dragged into this adventure and has to figure out how to survive on the fly. He is listed third in the credits, after Scarlett Johannsson and Mahershala Ali. However, I think he did a fine job with his material. He looks great rappelling down a cliff with the support harness cupping his generous-appearing crotch - well done, Jonathan! Ed Skein looks good, but has only about 10 minutes on screen. Garcia-Rulfo, who is also cute, has much more film time and plays a sympathetic character, but he's part of a whole plot line in which the relevance to the main plot is poorly fleshed out.

In total, the film is not great cinema, but it has some fine cinematography, and a couple of effective moments. As the film critic above wrote, there are plot hole and superfluous plot lines and characters whose back stories are obscure, to say the least. don't think it's a film for the ages, but pretty typical of summer escapist adventure cinema. People meet dinosaurs, some of the dinosaurs try to eat people, people hide and run away to escape the wiliest dinosaurs - we've all seen versions of this film before.

[quote]I love Jonathan Bailey, but I agree that he's not really cast as an action hero in this film, or at least the main action hero.

I never expected him to. The fact that he's wearing glasses in promo shots is a dead giveaway that he's not the main action hero, because when has that happened before in (modern) American movies? And of course there's the trailer where it's spelled out that he's a nerdy scientist type...

Does he feel the weight of a flop now?

He feels the payday of a Jurassic Park movie.

The movie is not a flop. It's a terrible movie, but that doesn't make it a flop. Flop is about $$$.

R131 is right. There can be flops that are incredible films and horrendous films that aren't flops. I guess you could specify "critical flop" but that's not usually what people are referring to if they say "flop" unless they specify. And I don't think anyone was expecting some amazing movie this far into the franchise which is clearly rebooted just for money.

Time to get his ears pinned back

r129 = aged like milk

The movie is a hit. $318 million first weekend on a $180 million budget.

I’m glad because Jonathan has basically been the face of this movie with Scarlett.

And then he’s got Wicked in the fall.

I’m happy to see a successful gay actor.

Wicked actually opened higher in the US over the traditional 3-day weekend. Part 1 of a musical beating out a Jurassic Park summer blockbuster is shocking.

"Jurassic World Rebirth" grossed an estimated $91.5 million during its initial three-day weekend in North America, which runs from Friday to Sunday.

[quote] Datalounge loves nothing more than attacking a successful out-of-the-closet gay man.

Honey, bring a two bit actor is not being successful.

[quote] The movie is a hit. $318 million first weekend on a $180 million budget.

Which means that it hadn’t even broken even and with all the horrible reactions to it, it’ll make back barely anything after its first week. Films have to make triple their budget to make even a penny.

It made $300M in 8 days. It's a hit.

R28 Superheroes don’t wear glasses? What about Clark Kent?

Can something be a "hit" but not a financial success?

It it earns a lot of money, it means a LOT of people saw it, and it gets a lot of attention. But given big production costs and marketing costs it may make profits minimal.

Or in that case, would you just say that it was "popular" and not a hit

Fans are raving about Bailey’s “slutty little glasses”!

I read this as: "when asked if he could top Jonathan Bailey's slutty little ass."

Bailey and Bomer definitely fucked while filming Fellow Travelers.

Yes it was quite obvious. Bailey looked ready to unhinge his jaw and swallow him whole.

Bailey has said that his gay awakening as a child was Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid.

R144 If they didn’t, they should have!