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?